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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: "Payment Supervisory Officer." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelpeterson00001111@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:12:51 +0100
Subject: Mr. Michael Peterson:Payment Supervisory Officer.

Good day.

Ref.: Verify To Know The Capacity Of Your Bank Account

This is to let you know that I have been trying to get this fund into your bank account and to prove to you that not everybody that comes your way in this world is Fake. Now I have tried my possible best to see that the bank transfer your money to you. And also has submitted all the necessary documents needed by the bank on your behalf and attach is an international bank draft issued in your name through the Hongkong & shanghai banking corporation Plc (Hsbc) London.

Go to your bank office and confirm if this attach bank draft is real so that the bank will send the original copy of the international bank draft to you, also note that the Director of the bank told me that they just issued you this US$850,000.00. To verify the capacity of your bank account if your bank account can accommodate the US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) before they will transfer the whole amount of your money to you. Confirm this with your bank management immediately and get back to us so that the bank will know very well that your bank account is capable of receiving the whole amount of your money, please re-send your current receiving address where the original copy of your bank draft will be delivered to you, with the above Fax number immediately you received this message, Including your telephone and fax number for easy communication and also confirm if you received the attachment of your international bank draft. Do that immediatel!
y.

God bless us all.

Yours in service,

Mr. Michael Peterson
Payment Supervisory Officer.
Hsbc Bank, London.

Anti-fraud resources: