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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: "Mr. Ken Cleverly." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <k_cleverly5@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 17:10:33 -0400
Subject: Final Notification

Good Day!
U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL(USNCB)
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
 
Attention:
It has been revealed in our routine investigation and screening of payments for Contracts awarded and executed in Africa, Europe and Asia and attached Inheritance funds from the regions that you are among the affected beneficiaries whose payments are long overdue. It was found that an approved sum of $25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Dollars) was to be paid into your designated bank account
 
We have verified the whole payment system in the regions especially Africa and observed that there are lots of flaws in the banking system more especially in the accrued taxes on the funds and poor records which has resulted in those payment problems encountered by beneficiaries including you.
 
The affected countries have claimed that they have been doing their bests to ensure that the victims/beneficiaries receive their funds afterall in their accounts. As directed, we are currently working in collaborations with the various Commissions to immediately effect the payment of compensations of an initial sum of Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (US$15.50M) as approved by both the respective governments and the UN in favour of the affected beneficiaries.
 
Interestingly, the alarming discovery is that some top Nigerians and British Government Officials are really the brain behind the misfortunes of the affected benficiaries including you and are working in collaboration with some persons from USA to frustrate you and other affected persons and thereafter divert the funds into their personal accounts.
 
WE WISH TO INFORM YOU NOW THEREFORE THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS NOW BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS A LETTER OF CONSENT IS RECEIVED FROM YOU WITH SOME RECONFIRMATIONS ON YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM OUR RECORDS, A COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF  US$15,500,000.00 (FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE CONSENT LETTER FROM YOU.
 
PLEASE KINDLY RE-CONFIRM THE FOLLOWINGS INFORMATION THUS:
(1)YOUR FULL NAME==============================
(2)YOUR FULL  ADDRESS:=======================
(3)DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:========================
(4)MOBILE NUMBER:=============================
(5)SEX:=================================
(6)PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION:=====================
(7)AGE:========================
(8)OCCUPATION:=========================
AS SOON AS THE ABOVE REQUISITE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER CASH DELIVERY OR SWIFT TRANSFER IN-ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES AND INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED IN RESEPCT TO THAT.
 
NOTE: You are advised to STOP all communication you have with anyone in respect to your fund in order not to affect the successful discharge of our assignment.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Ken Cleverly.
Interpol.

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