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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: "Mrs. Kataleya Terence" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ismaila.abubakar69@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:10:37 -0700
Subject: READ AND PROCEED

Attention: ATM Card Beneficiary,
 
I write to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment of USD$10,5Million United States Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK OF AFRICA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward Transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$10,5Million United States Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, But the maximum amount you can withdraw daily is the sum of USD$4,000.00 only.
 
 
We have also mandated the Federal Government of Nigeria designated Bank to send your ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you which you will use to withdraw all your USD$10,5Million in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world.
 
You are therefore adviced to contact the DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPERATIONS with the information stated below:
CONTACT PERSON:
 
Dr.Ismaila Abubakar,
DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPERATIONS,
EMAIL address : dr.ismailaabubakar69@yahoo.com.ph
 
Inform Dr. Ismaila Abubakar, that you received a message from  Mrs. Kataleya Terence.
 
 
We wish to use this opportunity to express our sincere apology over your plight in the past Years and we wish to assure you of prompt receipt of your fund through ATM Card. Thanking you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
 
BEST REGARDS
Mrs. Kataleya Terence

Anti-fraud resources: