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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: "United Nations Commission" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unccpdept@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:35:50 -0700
Subject: =?utf-8?B?U3BhbTogQ29uZ3JhdHVsYXRpb25zIHlvdSBxdWFsaWZ5?=
=?utf-8?B?IGZvciBjbGFpbXMgVVMkNCw1MDAsMDAw?=

Dear Beneficiary,
We wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of all unclaimed funds in conjunction with the Word Bank and United Nations Auditors report, your payment file has finally been forwarded to us for review and immediate payment of your long delayed funds starting with a first compensation transfer of US$4,500,000.00 to your designated bank account within the next 3 working days.
The Audit reports given to us, shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.
We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.
If you should follow our directives, your fund US$4,500,000.00 will be credited and reflect in your bank account within three (3) bank working days and transfer copies will be forwarded to you and your bankers for confirmation.
For the immediate payment of your US$4,500,000.00,kindly contact today by email, our Payment Coordinator in the United Kingdom:
Name:  Mrs.Bridget Williams
#3 W.hall Crt, London SW1A2EL, United Kingdom.
Tel: +4470142473 Ext 12.
E-mail: mrsbridgetwilliams@yahoo.co.uk
All correspondences to Mrs.Bridget Williams, by email should have this Reference Number: (UNRC/25P/7605UK) sent along with your Contact Address and Telephone number.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Sylviane Aufdenblatten
United Nations Compensation Commission Unit.
Palais des Nations, Av. de la Paix 8-14,
1211 Geneva 10,Switzerland

Anti-fraud resources: