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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 Reserve Bank New York" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ben_bernankefrb@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2013 23:23:04 -0700
Subject: Re: Reply

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK NEW YORK
33 Liberty Street New York, NY 10045 - USA
 
Attn:
RE:   INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITH US$5,500,000
The management of the Federal Reserve Bank New York writes to inform you of your long over due payment that has been lying wait in the treasury department of the Federal Reserve Bank  for payment.
With regards to the approval of your Approval of this payment as confirmed by the Legal Department of the Federal Reserve Bank New York; you are hereby directed to contact Mr. Ben S.Bernanke for immediate payment as your payment officer with the contact information below:
 
Contact Person:  Mr. Ben S.Bernanke (Chairman)
Federal Reserve Bank New York
Email:  ben_bernankefrb@yahoo.com
Tel: (206) 350 2324

Anti-fraud resources: