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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: "Professor Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <professor_allenadams@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 23:52:15 +0100
Subject: Your Funds Overdue Funds Payment Dear Beneficiary

OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORIEGN AFFAIRS- LAGOS NIGERIA
Motto: Service To Humanity

My name is Professor Allen Adams, Executive Commissioner of Foreign Affairs my office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions in West Africa Region concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels in line to foreign contracts settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. Your name was among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account, on this note;I have your file before me and hope your data's are correct and un-tampered unless you reconfirm it. As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these funds to the Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received two days ago from the Parliamentary Committee on Contract Payments / Foreign Debts to submit the List of payment reports/ expenditures and audited reports of revenues.

This mail is drafted based on the report directed to this office by Board and Trustees of the United Nations (UN) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday that foreign beneficiaries are not receiving their funds in my country which I am directed and saddled with the obligation to ensure that as the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs that all the beneficiaries receive their funds without any further delays or demands of unnecessary fees. Therefore I will implore you to acknowledge the fact that the Amalgamated Bank Limited of Federal Republic of Nigeria has tasked with responsibility of remitting this fund to any of your norminated bank account. I will solicit your understanding towards contacting me with the following information for more advice and modalities over the settlement of your fund through any payment method below:

1. Telegraphic Wire Transfer
2. Automated Teller Machine Card (ATM)

Notwithstanding your required to provide the information below once you are responding with the method you consider suitable and convenient for the settlement of your funds. Note that the confirmation of your funds payment will not exceed 48 hours once you comply with the listed information below;

Full Names:
Residential Address:
Phone /Fax Number:
Age/Gender:
Expected Amount to Be Received:
Copy of your International Passport or Driver’s License:

However I want you understand that I want to use my good office to ascertain that you receive your outstanding funds once I have verified the legitimacy of your fund and I shall feed you with further modalities as soon as I hear from you.

Cordially,
Professor Allen Adams
Executive Commissioner of Foreign Affairs

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