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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: "Alex Gajira" <alexgajira46@gmail.com>
Reply-To: alexgajira45@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:35:48 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Attn:Beneficiary




Office of the Director Foreign Operation
Federal Ministry of Finance
254, Bissau Street, off Herbert Macaulay Way,
Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria.
Tel+234-70-8432-2464
Attn:Beneficiary

This is to officially inform you that an Inter-Switch ATM-Card Valued
atUS$14.5.Million only has been accredited in your favour by the Ministry
of Finance. And Your Personal Identification Number is 2443.
You are to get back immediately for claim processing.With the following
information Below:

Name...
Address...
Phone number...
Country...
Sex...
Your Personal Identification Number...


Regards
Dr.Alex Gajira

Cc: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Cc: Federal Ministry of finance (FMF)
Cc: Nigeria National Bankers Commission (NNBC)

Anti-fraud resources: