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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: anta beal <anta.beal@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:28:48 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

*UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division
DC-1, Room 730, New York, NY 10017.

Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria last week from London, after
series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia,
Europe, oceanic, Antarctica,South America and the United States of America
respectively against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British
Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.

I have met with President Good-luck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he
has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund.

As directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon,We are working in
collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and
authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your
compensation of an amount of $10.5M approved by both the British government
and the UN into your account without any delay, but due to we are having a
problem with the IMF we can no longer proceed with the fund transfer into
your bank account which you are to receive your payment via ATM MASTER CARD
Delivery direct to your house address, Therefore the only fee you will pay
to receive the card direct to your house address is the delivery and
insurance fee only. Upon your request I will tell you the amount and also
send you the payment information which you will use in sending the delivery
and insurance fee to enable you received your ATM MASTER CARD.

For example, in June 2011 a fraudulent email scheme was initiated using the
name and address of the Under-Secretary-General OIOS. Recipients were
requested to forward a $240 notarization fee via Western Union Money
Transfer and in return the recipients would receive a payment of three
million four hundred thousand US dollars. Please be advised that scams like
this are criminal acts and have since been reported to the appropriate
authorities for investigation. Note: the only fee you will be required to
pay is the delivery and insurance fee only, so If you are still unsure of
what actions to take, simply delete the e-mail or print and send a copy of
the e-mail to the Investigations Division, Office of Internal Oversight
Services, DC-1, Room 730, New York, NY 10017.

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some
top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund
and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. Richard Graves from USA
to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal
account. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like
you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how
best to received the ATM MASTER CARD within the next 72 hours.

You have to reconfirm your information's to me as requested below
immediately you receive this email to enable us proceed with the delivery
of your ATM MASTER CARD.

Your Full Name..............
Your Addresses...............
Your Call Phone Number.........
Your Occupation and Age..............
A Copy of your International passport.......

Since my stay here in Nigeria, i have been holding series of meetings which
makes it difficult for me to answer calls, but you can call my assistant
Mr. Ken Ogu whom came to Nigeria with me on the cell phone number which we
just acquired in Nigeria today. Meanwhile I have a very limited time to
stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this
message so that I can advise you on how best to get your ATM MASTER CARD
within the next 72 hours.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. Anta Beal
United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Internal Oversight*

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