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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: "Criminal Police Organization" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mstheresapatrick@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 07:10:48 -0800
Subject: Re: Your Payment Approval (Message)

The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, INTERPOL)
Website: http://www.interpol.int
 
 
 
Your Compensation Approval Message: "Sorry for the late response"
 
 
Inline with the report we received previously that you have sent money to fraudsters in Africa, we have carried out verifications at Western Union Money Transfer Headquarters to know if truly you have sent money to fraudsters in Africa and it was confirmed to us by Western Union that you have sent money to Africa on several occasions.
 
 
In this regard you are hereby entitled to compensation in the on-going compensation program organized in Africa by INTERPOL to be implemented by Rand Merchant Bank.
 
 
Contact Rand Merchant Bank (Cape Town South Africa ad-hoc branch) via the email address stated below for your compensation.
 
 
Rand Merchant Bank Email Address:  mstheresapatrick@gmail.com  , Contact Person ; Mrs. Theresa Patrick , Contact Phone Number : + 27 6 111 234 32
 
 
 
Note: You are to send Mrs. Theresa Patrick the details as listed below:
 
 
 
Your Full Name
Your Home Address
Your Mobile Phone Number
Your Landline Phone Number (if any)
You must be above (18 Years Old) to Claim this Compensation Fund of US$3.5Million Dollars.
 
This message is from the Internet Fraud Department,
The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, INTERPOL)
http://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/Africa

Anti-fraud resources: