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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: "Mrs. Theresa .E. Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: < stheresalewis@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2012 11:54:06 -0700
Subject: Re: FUND APPROVED BY UNITED NATIONS

Attn:

We write to inform you that Series of meetings have been held over the past 2weeks with the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, International Community Board and U.S.Department of State and Africa Union Organization this ended last week.

During the meeting, this organization discovered that you have not received your funds due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.

The International Community Board Committee enhanced by the United Nations/ U.S.Department of State and Africa Union Organization have successfully passed a payment mandate to our paying bank to clear all over due Contract funds, Lottery winnings and Inheritance funds owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their funds. Note that your payment file submitted to our paying bank in question is $10.5Million U.S Dollars.
In order to know you are ready to receive your approved fund, you are strictly advice to furnish us with the below information for us to cross check in our payment file if is correct, and after all verifications, we will then direct you on how to contact our paying bank for your fund payment to you.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Home/Cell Phone:
4. Age and Marital Status:
5. Occupation:
6. Any Identification like Int'l Passport/Driver License:

We expecting your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively.

Mrs. Theresa .E. Lewis
Assistance Secretary United Nation
Liaison Office New-York, USA

Anti-fraud resources: