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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: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officeofwoopen@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:53:42 -0600
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY


Attention: Beneficiary,


How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? You may not
understand why this mail came to you.

We have been having meetings for the passed years which ended in 2009
with the ten secretaries to the UNITED NATIONS.

This email is sent to all the people that have been scammed in every
part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS agreed upon to compensate them
with the sum of US$ 850,000. 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 and impersonators etc.

We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you,
this has been agreed upon and has been signed.

You are advised to contact Dr. Mrs. Woopen Hook of Nigeria Security
Department, as she is our representative in Nigeria contact her
immediately for your Cheque/ of USD$850,000.

These funds are in International Bank Draft Bank Draft for security
purpose ok? So she will send it to you and you can clear it in any
bank of your choice.

Therefore, you should send her your full Name and telephone
number/your correct mailing address where you want her to send the
Draft to you.

Contact Dr. Mrs. Woopen Hook immediately for your Cheque

Email: officeofwoopen2@aol.com

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,

Ban ki- Moon,
For United Nation.

Anti-fraud resources: