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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: "Michael Lennard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mleannnard@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 16:15:35 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT BY UN

United Nation Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.
Office, 2 U.N. Plaza (DC2-2170), New York, N.Y. 10017
 
The United Nation(UN) is in alliance with the Onewest Bank PSB,to release ALL the obstructed payments by The African/European Banking system.
 
Therefore,we are pleased to announce to you that your name and email address was submitted to this honorable office by the World Bank Authorities as one of the beneficiaries approved for payment.
 
Due to long list of names of beneficiaries we can only remit partial payments of US$8,500,000.00 (Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars Only) of whatever amount to be released to each of the beneficiaries bank account at this time.The balance of all payments will be processed and released by January 14th,2013.
 
Please,kindly reply to this office with your personal data etc. for your payment to be processed immediately.
Thank you.
Michael Lennard
Acting Secretary,
Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters
Date:11-08-2012

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