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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: "National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nationalsagency1@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:45:22 -0700
Subject: National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters

National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters
http://www.nsa.gov
Phone Number: 206-424-0134
Email: nationalsagency1@aol.com

Attention: Funds Beneficiary,

Firstly, my name is LTG Keith B. Alexander (Director, National Security Agency). We are contacting you today because we are taking over your Online Safety. We all know that the rate of fraudsters and scammers online are so much that we all receive at least 200 messages per day claiming to be from the Federal Bureau of Investigation or from the US Department of State or from a Government Worker in Nigeria. All those stories are lies used by fraudsters to extort money from our citizens.

We are doing our best to keep them off the internet world but we need you to also assist us in any vital information you can provide, in-order to put an end to their bad act and deliver your funds to you. We need your Full co-operation, understanding and Mutual Trust.

Right now, we are dealing with the Issuing Bank for your fund release. With this, we are 100% sure to be able to deliver your funds to you without further delays. Every year, Fraudsters collect $100 billion of US Dollars from their victims and this gives us so much concern.

Therefore, stop further communication with any firm, offices or individual so you can successfully receive your funds. Get back to me as soon as you read this so I can direct and instruct you on how to receive your funds from the legal Issuing Bank.

Director, National Security Agency
Chief, Central Security Service
LTG Keith B. Alexander, USA.

Anti-fraud resources: