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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: nbank13@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 08:32:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT NOTIFICATION ON CONTRACT/INHERITANCE REMITTANCE


Foreign Payment Unit
Nat West Bank,
153 Putney High Street
London SW15 1RX
United Kingdom.
Tel=A0 44 704 576 8661
Fax 44-7006-003-470=20
Our Ref:=A0 NATWESTUK/NGR/041/CK-08=A0=20

Attn: Honorable Beneficiary,
=A0
Congratulation to you, following the resolution and=A0 agreement reached=A0=
=20
by officials=A0 of the British Security Council, the African Union,=20
European=A0 Union, Board of World Bank Delegates after their last meeting r=
egarding the corrupt practices by the officials of the affiliate Banks and =
whom made it virtually impossible for you to receive your payment after con=
tract / inheritance completion.
=A0
Your name was=A0 listed=A0 as=A0 one of the 27=A0 beneficiaries=A0 to be co=
mpensated=A0=20
with the part payment sum=A0 of=A0 $6.5m only with immediate=A0 effect. In =
this=A0 regard, Nat West Bank London, has=A0 been designated=A0 to remit al=
l payments=A0 to beneficiaries=A0 who are=A0 due to be=A0 paid.
=A0
Furthermore, you are advised to send the following=A0 information to the=20
bank for confirmation of your file and=A0 remittance=A0 of your payment:
=A0
Your name=A0 and address
=A0
a=A0 scanned copy of your international pass or driv lic
=A0
your=A0 telephone=A0 number=A0 and=A0 fax=A0 number
=A0
any other vital information to claim your funds
=A0
Your urgent=A0 response=A0 will be=A0 highly appreciated, delay might=A0 re=
sult=20
=A0to a=A0 cancellation of your payment.
=A0
feel free to call the above=A0 numbers=A0 for=A0 confirmation.=A0 Note: you=
r payment will be=A0 sent=A0 to you in a=A0 confirm able certified bank dra=
ft.
=A0
Regards,
Mr ARTHUR BARNES
The Director Foreign Payment Unit
=0A=0A=0A

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