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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: f.yike@yahoo.fr
Reply-To: "Mr. Frank Yike" <atmpayment.department9@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:32:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello My Good Friend

Hello My Good Friend

This is to inform you that the Government's Fund Recovery Agency, Ministry of Finance Benin Republic has recovered some seized funds from the Western Union Office and Courier Services Companies including Banks. It has been discovered that your name and information is among the beneficiaries who could not conclude their transactions and did not receive their fund. You will receive your fund through International Certified Visa ATM CARD and fund will be withdraw able from any ATM MACHINE cash withdrawal point in part of the World without any further procedures because of all the delays you have encountered. All the official charges have be paid by the Benin Republic Government on the condition that once you receive this ATM CARD, you will refund the Government the fees that they paid.

Email address: atmpayment.department9@gmail.com

Thanks,

Mr. Frank Yike,
(+ 229 67 34 96 55) Fund Recovery Agency, Ministry Of Finance, Government Of The Republic Of Benin.

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