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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: "Bank of England." (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:46:25 +0100
Subject: {BOE011UK} FROM BANK OF ENGLAND.

From The Office of The Governor
 
Bank of England 
 
In Conjunction with Unclaimed Property Division USA.
 
Threadneedle Street London.
 
Attn: Beneficiary,
 
RE: NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS.
I am Mrs. Susan Cole, the secretary to Mervyn King, the governor of the bank of england. I was instructed to contact you by my boss on the issue of your long overdue unclaimed fund. kindly note that your fund was re-called and re-deposited into the "federal suspense account" of the bank of england last week, because you did not forward your claim as the right beneficiary.
 
My boss Mervyn King, was visited in his office by three gentlemen, really these men were unexpected by him because their visit was impromptu. He had to ask them why they came to see him in person and they said that they came to collect your inheritance/ contract fund bill sum of us$20 million which rightfully belongs to you as shown in your file with us, on your behalf and by your authorization.
 
Note that they actually tendered some vital documents which proved that you actually sent them for the collection of your fund. Below are the documents they tendered to my boss:
 
1. LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION.
2. HIGH COURT INJUCTION.
3. ORDER TO RELEASE.
 
Due to the nature of his job, he cannot afford to make any mistake in releasing your fund to anyone except you who is the recognized and true beneficiary. Note that my boss has asked these men to come back so he can verify this fact from you first. Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this payment to these men whom came on your behalf.
 
Kindly direct your response to the private email address of my boss below for quicker deliberation on this issue and to release your fund to you. Please remember to indicate your direct phone number he can reach you on in your response.
 
Email: mervynbking@mail.mn
 
Note that for security reasons you have been assigned a code/password which is {BOE011UK}. Please note that this code is the reference number for your transfer and its being disclosed to you alone, guard this jealously and all your email response should carry this code as the subject.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Mrs. Susan Cole.
 
Secretary To.
 
Mervyn King
 
Bank of England
 
United Kingdom.
 
Statement of confidentiality: "the information in this email and in any attachments may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any person without authorization. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it."

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