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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 Johnson Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsonwilliams11@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 06:55:17 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE FUNDS

ECO BANK PLC
PLOT 161, RAUFU TAYLOR CLOSE
OFF ADEOLA ODEKU STREET
VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS-NIGERIA
TEL/FAX: 234-8103675581
 
 
OUR REF: RFS/RFD/XX2013 FUND REMITTANCE DEPT
 
 
ATTN: APPROVED BENEFICIARY
 
 
VALUE AMOUNT: TEN MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ONLY. (US$10,000,000.00).
 
 
The Office of the Eco Bank Plc hereby write to confirm to you that we have received Information to release your approved fund US$10,000,000.00 to your designated bank account.
 
 
We have Verified The Funds Authenticity, And we have been able to Confirm that the FUND is 100% LEGAL. and the money must be Successfully Confirm In Your Bank Account. And your legally sum of US$10,000.00.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars). We also authenticate the fact that your entitled amount of US$10,000,000.00 is Safe for Immediate remittance to your own designated bank account, All necessary official modalities is being finalized in your favour and the Remittance Director of this the Eco Bank, shall communicate with you with Great Success within the Next few hours once you comply fastly with this instruction given in this letter.
 
 
THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED IN OUR WIRE SYSTEM SCHEDULE "TTC" FOR FINAL REMITTANCE OF YOUR FUND.
 
 
TO NOTARIZE YOUR FILE AND CERTIFY YOUR FUND FOR REMITTANCE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SEND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS, YOUR FULL NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO THIS OFFICE OF THE ECO BANK IMMEDIATELY. AT THE RECEIPT OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS, WE WILL NOTARIZE YOUR FILE, CERTIFY YOUR FUND FOR IMMEDIATE REMITTANCE AND CREDIT YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT WITHIN 24 HOURS.
 
 
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE ASK.
 
 
 
THANK YOU.
 
 
 
BEST REGARDS,
MR JOHNSON WILLIAMS
REMITTANCE OFFICER

Anti-fraud resources: