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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. Ann Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <annw1@superposta.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:10:46 +0300
Subject: RE:ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

Honorable beneficiary,
 
This is to officially inform you that ATM card worth Three Million United States of American Dollars ($3 Million) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2011.The card center will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE in the world.
Your personal identification is ATM- .5403. Contact the verification officer Mr. Ramon Ibe on this e-mail address:  iber1@superposta.com  with the following info for proper verification and claim processing:
 
Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone......................
Cell Phone Number...........
Fax.........................
Age......................
 
Scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.
 
Regards,
 
Mrs. Ann Williams
STATE INHERITANCE COMMITTEE
 
Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Anti-fraud resources: