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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: TIM STEVE <office----2010@att.net>
Reply-To: timsteve@mailaton.com
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:03:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Payment Notification



From:Tim Steve
Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract and
Inheritance fund Payment Notification

Sir,
Re-Release of your Inheritance Fund Value US$10.3M.
The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/Inheritance Fund payment Valued at USD$10.3m( TEN MILLION,THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) in conjunction with NIGERIA Government and CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.

This decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name (MRS: JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding Contract/Inheritance/award funds.
She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin. We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman (MRS: JANET WHITE) the power of attorney to represent you.
Please let us know also if you are aware that we have almost completed arrangements that will necessitate the immediate transfer of the above funds to the nominated Bank Account presently with us. Please go ahead and advice us immediately on the nest line of action. Below is the nominated bank account from MRS: JANET WHITE.
Bank Name: Washington Mutual Bank
Address: 1723 Palmdale Bulv.
Palmdale Ca. 93550, USA
Acct # : 3573813158
Rout # : 322271627
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
Beneficiary: JANET WHITE
If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to me immediately by contacting this office.
For immediate transfer of your funds, be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office. You are required to send to this office an email with the following information below:
1) YOUR FULL NAME__________________
2) Address_______________________
3) Your Telephone Number_________________________
4) Age and Sex_______________________
5) Occupation______________________
6) Copy ID or International Passport for Identification.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Tim Steve.
Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract And
Inheritance fund Payment Notification
Email:paulanderson@airsoftmail.com

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