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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: "JOHN GOODNAM" <man_good@libero.it>
Reply-To: wir.swissbank@aol.com
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 09:35:58 -0000
Subject: WIR BANK




WIR BANK
Head office.
Auberg 1 basel, ch 400
Switzerland
Email: wir.swissbank@aol.com
www.wir.ch


Dear Sir,

We are not sure you received our previous message but we wish to use this
medium to officially inform you that following the ongoing review of all
unclaimed and delayed funds by the United Nations and the World Bank, your
payment file was forwarded to our office for immediate payment of your
long delayed funds starting with a first transfer of US$950,000.00 with
reference No. SP/FM-95WA, to your bank account.

However, we are surprised to receive another application this morning from
your representative, MR.HANS STEINBICHLER,stating that you authorized him
to transfer the funds to another bank account in Switzerland and that you
were recently involved in an auto accident and cannot walk right now.

Could you please confirm immediately, your relationship with MR.HANS
STEINBICHLER and also, confirm if the bank account in Switzerland as shown
below is now your new bank account information to receive your funds this
week from our paying bank

CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038 ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT NO: 0872-456011-91
IBAN: CH55 0487 2045 6011 9100 0
SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ8OT

Kindly get in touch with us today by email with your telephone number to
confirm this information to avoid wrong transfer of your funds, so that we
can proceed with the transfer of the US$950,000.00 to your correct bank
account as scheduled. All correspondence should be sent to this Email
below. Email: wir.swissbank@aol.com

Yours sincerely,

Mr. JOHN N GOODMAN
Director Financial Services Regulation Committee

Anti-fraud resources: