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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "FRED CHRISTIAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ubaofafricauba@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2017 16:10:03 -0800
Subject: UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA NIGERIA

                                                                UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA NIGERIA
                                                            HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS UBA HOUSE
                                                             57 MARINA P.O. BOX 2406 LAGOS NIGERIA
                                                               PHONE: +234 8189850958                                                  
                                                                WEBSITE:WWW.UBAGROUP.COM
Greetings
My Name is   FRED CHRISTAIN the director cash processing unit, united bank for Africa {UBA}.
The international monetary fund (I.M.F.) in conjunction with African Union (A.U) has directed us to pay you Ten million five hundred thousand united state dollars (usd$10.500, 000.00) in cash through means of diplomatic courier service hand delivery.
Take note: Three thousand united state dollars (usd$3,000.00) have been mapped out for all expenses in taxes and other documents that matters.
Therefore, do forward your Name, home address and direct phone number to this E-Mail: christainfred@gmail.com
Do this quickly so the delivery can be done because time is not in our side.
                                                     Christian   Fred
                                                    Director cash processing unit
                                                   United bank for Africa. (U.B.A).
                                                    E-Mail:     christainfred@gmail.com
 

Anti-fraud resources: