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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: "UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:21:30 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION

 
U.S.A. GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK, EUROPEAN UNION & UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL PAYMENT APPROVAL VALUED US$8.3MILLION.
 
UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM.
Payment Authorization Commission
91 Station Road,
West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7LT,
United Kingdom
 
Attn: Beneficiary,
 
The British Prime Minister in conjunction with U.S.A GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK, EUROPEAN UNION & UNITED NATIONS, do hereby give this irrevocable payment approval order with Release Code: GNC/3480/01/00 for your Contract Inheritance/Award Winning Entitlement with the UNITED NATIONS to your nominated bank account.
 
Consequently, your new UN Payment Approval Numbers are, UN5685P, White House Approved No: WH44CV, Reference No: UN-35460021, Allocation No: A674632, Pin Code No: 155674, Certificate of Payment Merit No: UN-103 & Your Secret Code No: XXTN013. Now having received these vital payment numbers, you are qualified to receive and confirm
 
As a matter of urgency, you are required to Deal and Communicate only with MR. OWEN JOHN, DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE CITIBANK LONDON, with the help and monitory team from CITIBANK NEW YORK, which is our official remitting bank. However, the Committee on Foreign Payment Matters has look up to ensure that you receive your funds without any delay.
 
SO contact: MR. OWEN JOHN on his contact information, Direct Citibank Telephone No +44-702-4081284 Fax Number: +44- 870- 2860893, Email: owenjohn_uk@gmx.com for immediate release of your Contract Inheritance/Award Winning fund. Please be inform that you are not allow to correspond with any-other person or offices anymore ONLY WITH CITIBANK LONDON and you are to send below Information request for your transfer:
 
1) YOUR FULL NAME:
2) FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR CITY/STATE:
3) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE:
4) COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS:
5) BANK INFORMATIONS:
a) BANK NAME:
b) BANK ADRESS:
c) ACCOUNT NUMBER:
d) SWIFT CODE:
e) ROUTING NUMBER:
6) PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS:
7) A COPY OF YOUR INT'L PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE
 
Note: Your personal contact/communication code with Citibank is (un715), you are advice to send your full banking information to the Citibank International Remittance Director Headed by Mr. Owen John and make sure you speak with him with your payment code for the release of your funds and send him all your banking information now.
 
CONTACT CODE (un715)
OFFICER: MR. OWEN JOHN.
POSITION: DIRECTOR, INTL, REMMITTANCE CITIBANK LONDON.
TELEPHONE OFFICE/BANK: +44 702 4081284.
FAX NUMBER: +44 870 2860893
EMAIL: owenjohn_uk@gmx.com
 
Regards,
 
CHAIRMAN, PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION COMMISSION
UNITED NATIONS AND USA GOVERNMENT.
SIR TERRY  LAMPARD.
 

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