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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.ben s,bernan" <info@un.com>
Reply-To: <mr.bensb@ymail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:55 -0700
Subject: Federal Reserve Bank New York

33 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10038

Attn:

This is to bring to your notice that you have been compensated with the sum of US$4M (four Million United States Dollar).
This compensation fund of US$4M was awarded to you during 5th annual Chief Security Summit held in London,in the summit we treated many issues including the climate change, scam victim among others.
However, among the hundreds of email addresses of internet scam victims both in USA, Europe and Asia.Which was presented to us in the summit, your email address was chosen at random for the compensation.
Regard to this development, you are urged to email me back at once with your details such;

Your Full Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Occupation:
As soon as I hear back from you. your US$4M (Four Million United States Dollar) will be released to you,and how did you want us to pay you?


Thanks for your cooperation & Understanding.
Yours Truly,
Mr. Ben S. Bernanke
Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York

Anti-fraud resources: