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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: "John Matt" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <capt.james2020@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2012 07:25:01 -0400
Subject: YOUR PENDING PAYMENT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED!!!

UNITED NATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMMED)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA
20-A NEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT U NIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027,
ATTN: Beneficiary,
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 inheritance fund, recommended and approve in your favour. During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily Delayed by corrupt officials of the Bank who are Trying to divert your money into their private accounts, to for estall this,security for your funds Was organized in the form of your personal Identification number (PIN) ATM CARD this will enable only you have direct Control over this fund, we will handle this payment ourselves to avoid the hopeless situation created by the Officials of the bank.
We obtained an irrevocable payment guarantee on your Payment from the presidency.we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation/instructions; your Entire Inheritances fund has been credited in your favor through ATM card. You are therefore advice to send your contact details to GARY NASH International Audit unit, United Nations Liaison Office London EMAIL:(atmcenterpayment1@gmail.com ) to collect your original payment slip with your ATM card.
They will issue you an ATM card that you can use to withdraw money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is Ten Thousand dollars per a day. So if you like to receive your funds through this means kindly let us know by contacting the card payment center and also send the following information as stated below to them
as directed above.
1 Full Name
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
TO (P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE)
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. Home Equity {YES OR NO}.
6. Identity/Sex.
NOTE: YOU ARE ADVICED TO FURNISH REV. PETER CLARK WITH YOUR CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS.AND ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID NOW IS $8.3 MILLION THE REST WILL BE PAID TO YOU IN A LATER DATE. We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively thereby making contact with Capt. Dahlin Martin as directed to avoid further delay.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CAPT. JAMES WILLIAMS
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

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