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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: "Federal Reserve Bank, New York" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ben.ben845@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 15:05:09 -0500
Subject: Final Notification

Compliments,
From  Federal Reserve Bank New York
Attention ;
 
We were meant to understand from our findings that you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund ($10.5 MILLION) which has been delayed and has been the handiwork of some miscreant elements from Nigeria. In view of this fact, we advice that you stop further communication with any  correspondence from Nigeria
 
You don't have to pay any charges to receive your Contract/Inheritance fund anymore as you have met up with the whole requirements, The only thing required from you is to obtain Non-Resident Clearance and the payment registration note which can only be obtained from the office of the head of operation United Nation west Africa though we will forward his
contact details to you as soon you confirm the receipt of this message.
 
We will help you to see that you obtain the form so that our bank, The Bank of America will effect immediate transfer of your Inheritance sum ($10.5 MILLION) into your designated bank account or issue you a valid ATM CARD valued at the same amount. Should you follow up our directives, your fund will reflect in your account within five Bank working days from the day you obtain this certificate. Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund.
 
Finally, you are advice to forward to this bank the following information to enable us verify your data with us before proceeding with the release of your funds.
 
Full Name:   Contact address:   telephone number:   sex:  age:  occupation:
 
Upon the confirmation of your details, We will furnish you with further details that will help you obtain the required certificates from the United Nation.You are required to quickly respond urgently without delay.
 
Faithfully yours,
 
MR. BEN S. BERNANKE
 
Head, Electronic Payments Unit
Federal Reserve Bank, New York
Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York

Anti-fraud resources: