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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: "NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE (NPF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <npfnig@terra.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:13:59 +0100
Subject: YOUR DELAYED FUNDS/ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE???RE-AFFIRM

Attn: Dear Beneficiary,
 
Compliment of the Season and May you remain favored.
I am ( Mr. Hafiz Abubakar Ringim ) the  Inspector General of The Nigeria Police Force (NPF). We received a letter this morning from the Central Bank of Nigeria informing our office that, they received your Part Payment of US$750 which you sent through Mr. Allen Smith and Mrs. Cynthia Edward from Canada. These individuals claim to be your representatives, they presented a DEATH CERTIFICATE on your behalf stating that, you are DEAD and before you passed away you instructed them to come and claim your fund for you, as the rightful beneficiary.
 
Below is the account details which they provided and instructed the Bank to transfer your fund valued US$14,500,000.00 into:
Bank Name: BANK OF AMERICA (BOA)
Bank Address: 2075 S. Victoria Ave Ventura, CA 93003
Bank Phone Number: 800 788 7000
Account Name: Mr. Allen Smith.
Type: Checking
ABA # 322271627
Acct # 1951204345
Amount: US$14,500,000.00
 
If you did not send them, you are required to provide us with the below information (for official verification) via email:
1. Your Full Name;
2. Your Age and Occupation;
3. Marital Status;
4. Direct Telephone/Fax Number;
5. Home and Office Address:
6. Identification
7. How much have you previously invested or lost?
 
As soon as we receive the requested information from you, we are going to forward it to the Bank where you will be directed for your fund to be released to you. This is in line with the latest Presidential release as a result of numerous petitions by International Comity/United Nations/ European Union/ Federal Bureau of Investigation/ Homeland Security etc on how people are hiding here (in Nigeria) to perpetrate this evil act and rubbishing the image of our dear country.
 
Regards.
Happy New Year!
F: Mr. Hafiz Abubakar Ringim
I.G, Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
 

Anti-fraud resources: