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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: "Foreign Operation Dept" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gnwose@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 16:02:42 +0100
Subject: CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY'S ACCOUNT NUMBER

CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY'S ACCOUNT NUMBER
 
ATTN:
 
ALOT OF DISCREPANCIES HAD BEEN DISCOVERED IN YOUR CONTRACT FILE.A
LETTER OF AFFIDAVIT HAS REACHED THIS OFFICE REQUESTING FOR A CHANGE OF ACCOUNT NUMBER TO A BANK IN COSTA RICA BY YOUR ATTORNEY AND PARTNERS.
 
ON FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS BY C.B.N PAYMENT INVESITIGATION/SENATE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENT WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN THE SIGNATURES.KINDLY, CONFIRM AND INGORM THE UNDERSIGNED IMMEDIATELY RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL IF YOU HAD AUTHORISED THE CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY BANK ACCOUNT IN RESPECT OF YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT PAYMENT.
 
THE CHANGE OF YOUR ACCOUNT NOTIFICATION/DECLARATION WAS SUPPORTED WITH A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM LAGOS HIGH COURT REF; IKJ/JJ/202/K2009, DATED 24TH NOVEMBER, 2009AND SIGNED BY ONE ROBERT SCHOLLHAMMER WHO CLAIMED AND STATED IN THE SWORN DECLARATION THAT HE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF YOUR COMPANY.
 
THE ACCOUNT IS IN BANCO NACIONALE , COSTA RICA, A/C NO. 2100025, WE HAVE ALREADY ADVISED OUR CORRESPONDING BANK OVERSEAS TO RELEASE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER WAS SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISE IN YOUR OWN INTEREST TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE NOTIFYING US IF YOUR ARE AWARE OF THIS NEW DEVELOPENT AS THIS OFFICE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR MISCREDITING OF CLIENT'S ACCOUNT.
 
PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE AS THIS WILL GUIDE US ON WHAT STEP TO TAKE.ONLY THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS: gnwose@gmail.com
 
WE EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
YOUR FAITHFULLY,
DR.GOODLUCK NWOSE.
GROUP CHAIRMAN.
FOREIGN PAYMENT VERIFICATION BOARD.
CBN.
 
 

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