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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: BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT <ste@educacao.ma.gov.br>
Reply-To: BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT <bbc.financedepartment@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:27:12 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: YOUR REFERENCE NO: 98654752.


ATTN: RECIPIENT,

WE WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS OF £18,000,000.00 (EIGHTEEN MILLION POUNDS STERLING) HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU ALREADY BY THE BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT UK SO THAT YOU CAN COLLECT YOUR FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY WITHIN THE NEXT 72HRS TIME.

YOUR REFERENCE NO: 98654752 THAT YOU WILL USE IN COLLECT YOUR FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.WE NEED TO CONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION BELOW:

FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
GENDER :
OCCUPATION:
PHONE NO:
COUNTRY:

WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION ABOVE SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO YOU TO COLLECT YOUR FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY,YOU WILL CONTACT THE BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT UK THROUGH OUR EMAIL ADDRESS:(bbc.financedepartment@yahoo.cn).

WE NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY TO RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS TODAY.

YOUR FAITHFULLY,
DR HELEN COLE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT
UNITED KINGDOM
0845 838 1815 (UK Local Rate)
+44 7024084948(From Outside UK)

Anti-fraud resources: