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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: " (UNITED NATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAM)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail.6@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:40:46 -0000
Subject: Re: Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027/COMPENSATION UNIT

 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Zenith Bank Ltd, COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION.
UNITED NATIONS (UNITED NATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAM)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
UNITED NATIONS LIASION OFFICE
WEST AFRICA - ACCRA GHANA.
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027.      (Regarding Your Payment)
Date:  11th  / 1 / 2014.
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? This is to kindly inform you about the current update on the released of your legal funds. We have been having a meeting for the past 4 months which ended 2 days ago with the General Members of the UNITED NATIONS Organization Main Bodies.
This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of USD$950,000.00 United States Dollars through a secured/certified mode of payment Via ATM Visa Card. Therefore, we are happy to inform you that an arrangement has perfectly been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible in our bid to be transparent.
However, it is our pleasure to inform you that your ATM Card Number; 4120 5350 0007 4999 has been approved and upgraded in your favor. Meanwhile, your Secret Pin Number will be available as soon as you confirm to us the receipt of your ATM CARD.
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc. We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, and we are happy to announce to you that every necessary legal arrangement regarding to your Compensation has been signed and sealed.
You are advised to contact Dr. Famous Kwesi (Zenith Bank Ltd) as he is our representative in West Africa - Accra - Ghana.
Contact him immediately for the release of your USD$950,000.00 United States  Dollars compensation payment from the (United Nations) This funds is in an ATM Visa Card for security purpose so he will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice in your country.
Therefore, you should send him your Full Name, Telephone number, Your Contact Mailing address, where you want him to deliver your ATM VISA CARD to your house address. Contact Dr. Famous Kwesi (Zenith Bank Ltd) immediately for your ATM Visa Card now as soon as possible:
Bank Name: (Zenith Bank Ltd)
Person to Contact: Dr. Famous Kwesi
Email: officemail.6@zipmail.com.br
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your ATM Visa Card.
Making the world a better place.
Regards,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

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