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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: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.mrs.jennifer.obodo@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 07:22:45 +0200
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED.

Federal Ministry of Finance Lagos Nigeria
Glass House, Former National Assembly Complex,
Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Tel: +234 708 252 0843
Fax: +234 803 555 0079
Greeting,
We just received a call from the Director of United Parcel Service (UPS) Nigeria LTD Courier Delivering Company Lagos Nigeria that your (ATM MASTER CARD) which was sent to you, was returned due to wrong address; this (ATM MASTER CARD), contained your US$1.5 Million (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED DOLLARS ONLY) As your foreign inheritance payment.
Therefore call the Director of United Parcel Service (UPS) Nigeria LTD Courier Delivering Company Lagos Nigeria (DR. MRS. JENNIFER OBODO) on her cell phone: (+234 708 252 0625) Or email address: (dr.mrs.jennifer.obodo@gmail.com) and give her your correct address and Phone number for the re-delivering of your (ATM MASTER CARD). Use this code (XA-8550) as the subject of your mail to her, for identification and also to avoid wrong sending of your (ATM MASTER CARD) again.
Regard,
Mr. Desmond Ekeh
Federal Ministry of Finance Lagos Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources: