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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: "MR.Ben S. Bernanke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <b.ben81@Safe-mail.net>
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 07:35:21 -0700
Subject: Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York

NEW YORK
ATTN:MY DEAR
COTRACT FUND CREDIT FROM BANK  FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
WE RECEIVED THE INSTRUCTIONAL LETTER TO CREDIT $10.5MILLION TO YOUR ACCOUNT. WE WISH TO LET KNOW THAT ALL CHARGES ARE WAIVED FOR THE SUCESS OF THIS CONTRACT FUND TO BE CREDITED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
YOUR RESPOND IS REQUIRED TO ENABLE US CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT  WITHOUT ANY FURTHER OF DELAY  AND YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO GET BACK TO US WITH THE RECONFIRMATION OF YOUR BANKING  PARTICULARS FOR WE TO KNOW IF WHAT WE HAVE IN FILE IS CORRECT AND TO AVOID CREDITING  YOUR FUND TO WRONG ACCOUNT
.
CONGRATULATION TO YOUR CONTRACT FUND. PLEASE BE FAST ON THIS MATTER.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU
REGARDS
 
MR.Ben S. Bernanke
Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York

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