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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: "Publicity Personnel {CBN}" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <publicitycbn@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:40:19 +0100
Subject: Notification of payment

Our Ref:  Payment Notification                                                    Your Ref: Comply with Notice
Attn: Fund Beneficiary.
Dear Sir/Madam
This is to officially inform you that we have completed the transfer of US$5M {Five Million United States Dollars} to our foreign reserve account with the Federal Reserve Bank in New York in your favor, where this funds would be released directly to you the beneficiary.
You are immediately advised to contact our fiduciary agent in the United States of America who is to work hand in hand with you to ensure that this fund reaches you as soon as possible. Below is the contact detail of our fiduciary agent,
Mr. Dennis Melcher
Fund Fiduciary agent/ Intermediary representative
Phone: 1 865 590 8483
Email: dennis.melcher01@gmail.com
Be informed that this directive is from the office of the presidency Federal Republic of Nigeria and also in agreement with the United States Government, International monetary Fund, United Nations fund oversight office and the Federal Reserve Bank New York.
Yours Sincerely
 
Mr. Collins Obey
Publicity Personnel
Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}
Phone: 234 817 006 1185
Email: publicitycbn@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: