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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: "Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contract_review@163.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 01:10:49 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE PAYMENT REVIEW

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
ADDRESS: 1890 EPPS BRIDGE EXPRESS WAY LAGOS, ABUJA , NIGERIA,30606
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
From: Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius,
Attn: Beneficiary
We receive the content of your e-mail well noted and i wish to inform you that the fee are not deductable as we have authorize your funds to be transfer into your bank account as soon as you paid for the Notorization fee to the UN.which is less than $159.
I have met with new President of Nigeria Mr. Good luck Jonathan, who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account.
Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Senate Internet Fraud Investigation Unit in Untied states of America (NYS) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorise the Government of Untied states of America to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of $8.3M approved by both the British government and the UN into your account without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account, is your Notorization fee to the UN.which is less than $159
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.
Sincerely yours.
Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight

Anti-fraud resources: