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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: "Mr. John Holmes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <holmesfin14@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:53:40 -0800
Subject: Re: YOUR PAYMENT APPROVAL

My name is John Holmes,United Nations department of International Financial Surveillance and Control. Mr. Melvin Mitchell who claim to be your representative and sent to RBSGROUPSBANK wire transfer for USD$10.6Million.
The account details provided below.
 
NAME MR. MELVIN MITCHELL
Bank OF America TX2-817-01-01
9308 Forest Lane, Dallas TX 75243
ROUTING # 541740162
ACCT # 488030345645
 
Do reconfirm to us if this account  Holder is from you and did you authorized him to receive your fund?. If he is not your representative, You are requested to fill the short questionnaire below.
 
1.YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS,DIRECT PHONE, AGE, SEX AND OCCUPATION .
 
However, we shall transfer the fund to Mr. Melvin Mitchell if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.
 
Regards,
John Holmes,
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL,

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