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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: "COMPENSATION UNIT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <union11@megamail.pt>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 23:55:53 -0000
Subject: SCAMMED VICTIM/ US$ 250,000.00 BENEFICIARY.REF/PAYMENTS CODE:06654

ZENITH BANK COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. Send acopy of your response to official email: zenithbankplc29@gmail.com or zenithbankplc585@gmail.com
ATTN:Sir/Madam,
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family?,You may not understand why this mail came to you.
 
In regards to the recent meeting between the United Nations and the
Present United States Government to restore the dignity and Economy of the Nations and also based on the agreement with the World Bank Assistance to help and make the world a better place for all with the sole aim of abolishing poverty i send you this mail.
 
We have been having series of meetings for the passed 7 months which ended 2 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 have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$ 250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars). This includes every foriegn 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 etc.
 
Your name and email was in the list submitted by our Monitoring Team of Economic and Financial Crime Commission observers and this is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.
 
You are advised to contact Mrs.Pamela Yough of ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC, as she is our representative in Nigeria, contact her immediately for your Cheque/ International Bank Draft of USD$ 250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose ok? so she will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice.
 
This meeting was first held on the 8th of April 2003. You can view this page for your perusal:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
 
Therefore, you should send her your full Name and telephone number and your correct mailing address, where you want her to send the Draft to.
 
Contact Mrs.Pamela Yough immediately for your Cheque:
Email: zenithbankplc29@gmail.com or zenithbankplc585@gmail.com
 
Goodluck and kind regards,
 
 
Making the world a better place
 
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).
http://www.un.org/sg/

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