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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 Timothy .Sloan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <timothysloan@usa.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:46:55 +0100
Subject: From:Wells Fargo Bank1

 
Wells Fargo Bank
100 Park Ave, New York, 10017 USA
Email;(timothysloan@usa.com)
Tel ; 1-914-401-1847
 
Attn;
Your long overdue lottery payment
 
Your long overdue lottery payment valued 3,000.000usd From National UK Lottery
1010 Liverpool, UK,London United Kingdom
has been received by our bank on Monday the 12th day of August 2013.and will be sent to you via ATM visa/ Master card, Ref of your lottery winnings,
 
Ticket No 057299401
Winning No/BS/1011501
Serial No 1243220029
Total amount won==  3,000.000usd
Taxes and bank commissions=30,000usd
Total deduction =30,000usd
Balance====2,970,000usd
 
Please reconfirm your name, your address and your phone number, via this email(timothysloan@usa.com) or call; 1-914-401-1847 to enable wells Fargo bank send your ATM visa card to you directly while your four(4) digit pin code will be given to you as soon as we hear from you.
 
Congratulations
 
Best Regard
Timothy J.Sloan
Chief Financial Officer, Wells Fargo Bank

Anti-fraud resources: