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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: "Agent:John Simmons" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j.simmons@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:37:23 -0400
Subject: BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION NOTICE [20-10-2011]

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION Metro Plaza,Plot991/992 Zakari Maimalari Street Cadastral Zone AO, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria. TEL: +234 80 769 61 875. ATTN: BENEFICIARY, This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from United States of America, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations. Right now, as directed by our Director, Robert S. Mueller, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of US$1,500,000.00 approved by both the British government and the UN into your account without any delay. We already have your name in our Claimant List as stipulated in article 41 of the Provisional Rules for claims.The Governing Council therefore devised a mechanism for the allocation of available funds to successful claimants that gave priority to the three urgent categories of claims and which, within each category, would give equal treatment to similarly situated claims. Only when each successful claimant in categories "A", "B" and "C" had been paid an initial amount up to US$1,500,000.00, thereafter other payments commence for claims in other categories. In conformity with the Provisions of article 40, paragraph 5 of the Rules, Information concerning the identities of individual claimant will not be made publicly. See our press release below: http://www.uncc.ch/status.htm Now your new payment approved numbers are follows United Nation Approval No; Un5685p, White House Approved No: Wh44cv, Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632 Pin Code No: 55674 Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103, World Bank Released Code No: 0763; We are conducting a standard Process investigation on behalf federal credit Union Bank, United State Of America, The private banking arm of the international banking conglomerate. This investigation involves, a man Who Came To our Office Claiming To be your true representative. Here is his information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or not as the government will not be held responsible for wrong transfer. For Paying Into The Wrong Account. Name: Mr. Edward Marsh Bank Name: Wells Fargo Bank Bank Address: California, USA. Account Number: 6503809428. Please reconfirm to this office, As a matter of urgency if this man Is From you. As a matter Of Fact, we have actually been authorized by the newly appointed UN Secretary General, and the Governing body Of The United Nations Monetary Unit to investigate the unnecessary delay of your fund payment. However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr. Edward Marsh, If we do not hear from you within The next Seven working days from today. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours. Regards, Agent:John Simmons CONSULAR/DIPLOMAT BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION ABUJA, NIGERIA. Phone:+234 80 3217 2553. Website: http://ukinnigeria.fco.gov.uk/en

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