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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: "Hisashi Owada" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <icjworldun@globomail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 05:41:37 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY!

ATTN: BENEFICIARY. PAYMENT FILE NUMBER: A
 
Court ORDER for the immediate Fund release (US$18,500,000:00) Cleared.
 
The Audit / Probe Panel Committee set up by the International court of Justice to investigate matters concerning your fund transaction has finally cleared you of all the allegations, prone to several failed attempts to claim your fund. All charges have been dropped against you, while your name has been included in first payment quarter of the physical year 2013 (Ref: FMF/SGH/013/2013 & Amount: US$18,500,000:00).
 
This investigation have been on for over 3 yrs, this is "WHY" you have suffered set backs in your several attempts to receive any part of your fund even though some fraudsters have tapped into your payment file, feeding you with false hope and lies. Now you can rest, guaranteed to receive the sum of $18,500,000.00 (Eighteen million five hundred thousand Dollars) as soon as you forward your information to this honorable court, the report from the committee justifies the urgent need to finalize your transaction and ensure that you receive your fund for sake of JUSTICE. These Honorable court, insist on cancellation of all previous /any pending payment arrangement of any institution/department that has been fruitless with you and advice you to send your personal coordinate to us to enable us issue and send a Court Injunction to order the immediate release of your fund:
 
(1) Your Full Name,
(2) Your Contact Address,
(3) Direct telephone line (Cell and Land line)
(4) ID Card (International Passport or ID Card)
 
NOTE: This honorable court has taken your back, hence we have made an arrangement that will best be profitable to you the beneficiary. Our interest is to make certain that this fund if finally paid to you after all this awful experience of the past years. We want nothing but result, certainly you can not do this on your own which is why we have stepped in and we will ensure that justice is finally done. In anyway that your co-operation is required to actualize success in this payment in a few days, I advice you to attend to me as I hope that you will prepare to take full advantage of his court injunction.
 
To avoid discrepancy which may cause further delay, please make sure that you send valid information which can be verified from your government. Your file will be treated immediately, hopefully you can receive your money withing the next 7 Days.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Hisashi Owada.
President & Chief Judge
International Court of Justice (ICJ)

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