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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.William Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customercare2001@cnegal.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 00:02:12 -0700
Subject: FROM ATM VISA CARD ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR UNITED NATION OFFICE

Dear :Beneficiary,
 
We wish to inform you that your approve partial payment of USD$3.2 Million from the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been released and ready to be paid to you via ATM VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw the US$3.2Million from any ATM Machine in any part of the world.
 
We have mandated the Intercontinental Bank Nigeria Plc, to issue an ATM VISA CARD and PIN# which you will use to withdraw the fund from any ATM machine in any part of the world but the maximum amount you can withdraw per day is US$20,000.00. You are strongly advice immediately to contact Mr.Jim Young the Head E-Banking Intercontinental Bank Plc,via his email address:( customercare2001@cnegal.com ) and send him your information such as:
 
1) Your Full Name.
2) Your Contact Address.
3) Your Home Phone, Mobile/Cell Phone and fax Number.
4) Occupation .
5) Sex.
6)Age.
 
The ATM VISA CARD approved on your name has been sent to Mr.Jim Young and he is waiting for your above information to enable him process and send you the ATM VISA CARD via any courier service company.So make sure you contact her right away with your full contacts/mailing information and tell him that you received a message from William Lee the ATM VISA CARD ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR UNITED NATION OFFICE,Instructing you to contact him for immediate release of your ATM VISA CARD.
 
You should contact him as directed and wait for your ATM VISA CARD within 72hours as soon as you furnish with all the requirement needed to dispatch the ATM VISA CARD to you. You are warned to disregard other contact or any communication you have with other offices from now henceforth.
 
Please we are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past.Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept out
 
congratulations!
 
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.William Lee
ATM VISA CARD ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR UNITED NATION OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources: