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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: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un.wbcunit@revenue.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 20:49:34 +0800
Subject: UNITED NATIONS/WORLD BANK COMPENSATION UNIT.

UNITED NATIONS/WORLD BANK COMPENSATION UNIT.
Our Ref: U.N/WBO/042SWISS/2010.
Attention: Beneficiary,
You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have been having a meeting for the past 7 months which just ended Few days ago with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS in Affiliation with WORLD BANK have agreed to compensate them with the sum of USD 550,000,00. This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems. lottery promotions, etc. We found your name in the list of those who are to benefit from these compensation exercise and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed. You are advised to contact Mr. Harry Chang of our paying center, as he is our representative .contact him immediately for your funds. This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose it can be cleared !
in any bank of your choice. There
Contact: Mr. Harry Chang for details and directives for your payment
Email: un.wbcunit@revenue.com I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you have encountered in receiving your fund in the past. Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft. Making the world a better place.
Regards,
Dr Alexa Wong
For Secretary-General.
FRDDDFGTWONPUUFKZEBPTEQFGTKIYKDCRQDCEC



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