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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "brown lio" <brown.lio002@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: brown.lio3@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 18:27:39 +0100
Subject: OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE


OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
MR. BROWN LIO (OFR)
FMF ANNEX COMPLEX BUILDING
GARKI, ABUJA NIGERIA
YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS
Our Ref: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009.
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:
MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/

Attention Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding
contractual/Inheritance payment which was suspended by the Central Bank of
Nigeria there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your
contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account.
As a result of this development, verification conducted by the Finance
Ministry in conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your
contract/inheritance case,your file has been endorsed for payment Awaiting
your confirmations.
During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN), it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign
contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the
year 2007/2008 that your name and company is next on the List of those who
will receive their fund.
Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming To
be your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to
this office if this man is truly from you or not, so that the
federal government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong
account.

NAME: MR. JOHNSON WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man Is
from you.
You are requested to fill and send this information for Verifications
purposes so that your fund will be remitted into your Nominated bank
account.
This fund is as a result of inheritance on your Behalf.Informationneeded
from you for verification is as follow:
(1) Your full name and address:

(2) Your age and marital status:
(3) Your occupation:
(4) Your telephone/fax number:
(5) Your nationality:
[6] Your account name and account number, the name of your bank.
As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary Procedures
in other to remit this
money into your account.

The Central Bank Governor, Executive Board of Directors and the Senate
committee for foreign over due inheritance fund have approved and accredited
this Reputable ministry, with the office of the minister of
finance on international remittance/foreign operations, to handle and
supervise the transfer of
all foreign inheritance funds for this first quarter payment of the year
2008.
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said
Mr.White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working Days
from today.

We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in Transferring of this fund
must have caused you.
Best Regards.

Mr. Brown Leo

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