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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: "U.S Department of the Treasury" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jacklew-ustreasury1@excite.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2013 06:09:04 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY - REPLY

U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
Website: http://www.treasury.gov
Date: 01/04/2013
 
Dear Beneficiary,
 
My name is "Jacob Jack Lew". I am the New Secretary of the Treasury under the U.S Department of the Treasury. The executive agency responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States. I was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 2013, to serve as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury. Prior to my appointment as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury, I have previously served as White House Chief of Staff. Prior to that role, I was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a position I also held in President Clinton's Cabinet from 1998 to 2001. Before returning to OMB in 2010, I first joined the Obama Administration as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
 
However, by virtue of my position as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury, I have irrevocably instructed the Federal Reserve Board to approve your fund release via issuance of a CERTIFIED CHECK drawn on the FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK, which is the authourized bank for your fund release.
 
However, as a former White House Chief of Staff under the Obama Administration, I wish to state categorically that a CERTIFIED CHECK of $6,500,000.00 USD drawn on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will be issued and sent to you via the US Postal Service at no cost to you. Every and all cost associated with the delivery of the CHECK has been pre-paid by the U.S Government. The only cost associated with your fund release is the cost of processing a "Fund Clearance Certificate", which is estimated to the value of $150.00 USD. The "Fund Clearance Certificate" is required in accordance with the U.S Monetary Policy; and it is the ONLY expenses you will incurr before the CHECK will be sent to your mailing address. Hence, you are advised to send the $150.00 USD via Western Union money transfer to "MR. CURTIS DANIELS" who is the nominated receiver for the $150.00 USD. The receiver's information required to send the $150 USD is indicated below:
 
PAY THROUGH:
MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL CASH TRANSFER
Receiver: TONY FONG
Receiver's Location: California USA
City: San Francisco
State: California
Test Question: Color
Answer: Blue
Amount: $150 USD
 
You can get more facts about the U.S. Department of the Treasury on this link http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx
 
Please get back to me with a quick confirmation of your mailing addresss and the payment details for the $150.00 USD.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Jacob "Jack" Lew
Secretary of the Treasury

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