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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: "George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sung77775@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 17:25:21 -0800
Subject: Urgent Response.

Dear sir,

This is to advice you that we have received a swift notification for a compensation
payment of the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars(US$3,500,000.00)only in a transit account with you as the listed beneficiary.

This fund can not be applied for since you do not maintain any account
with the appointed paying bank. We therefore invite you to avail yourself of the opportunity of
opening an offshore account with them.

They are a fully affiliated offshore bank where you can have full access to

your banking needs at no government taxes or interference. You can
immediately open an account with this bank as soon as we hear from you with small amount of opening deposit.

An account with them will give you the privilege of enjoying the on line
services provided, you will be able to access your file on line with the
bank and know exactly when your funds will be deposited to your bank
account opened and you will be able to unilaterally do transactions, pay
bills and transfer money from your account to any bank of your choice on
line all by yourself.

As soon as your account is opened on line we will immediately credit your
new account with the funds now in the statutory holding account.

Following this development, please complete the below requred confirmation:

1) FULL NAME
2) ADDRESS
3) PRIVATE PHONE.
4) NATURE OF BUSINESS AND POSITION

For further inquiry please contact me urgently.


Yours faithfully,
George Fanner.

Anti-fraud resources: