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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: "MR ADAM BENSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.adambenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:53:20 +0300
Subject: I STILL HAVE YOUR ATM-CARD WITH ME RIGHT NOW..

ATM CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT,

ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY.

We receive an email that you are dead and you ask one Albert R J Pitre to come and claim your ATM Card of (5million, five hundred thousand United States dollars. ($5.5,000, 000.00USD). Your ATM Card that has been with us since 1 month now and he has also agreed to pay for the Security fee which is $200 UNITED STATE DOLLARS, so I am writing you to know if you are (DEAD OR ALIVE), if you do not reply back before 48hrs we will have no other alternative that to believe that are truly dead according to Albert R J Pitre.

If you are still alive you can get back to us as fast as you can or you can call me on my phone take note that every thing has been paid for it is just for the Security fee that this Albert R J Pitre has agreed to pay for if you refuse to get back to us.

Am afraid we shall give him the ATM Card and collect the money from him and he will sign on your behalf and claim your ATM Card that means that he is right that you are dead and you ask him to come and claim the ATM Card on your behalf.

WE HAVE WITH US A SCAN COPY OF THE ID CARD?

Please take note that you have been given just 48hrs to get back to us so that we can know if you are alive, and fill the Information Below.

Name and Surname:
Driver License and Age:
House Address:
Phone Number and Occupation:
Email: mr.adambenson@gmail.com


THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR ATM CARD

We await your swift response in regard of this email we have received from Albert R J Pitre Regards.

Regards.
MR ADAM BENSON.

Anti-fraud resources: