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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: "Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unionbankng1004@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:51:39 -0800
Subject: FROM UNION BANK OF NIGERIA (UBN)

 
FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA (UBN)
SEN. UDOMA UDO UDOMA
Visit us at: www.unionbankng.com
 
YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.
 
CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/ 009
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been seriously warned by the United States Government, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, United Nations (UN) and other international bodies to make sure we settle most of our outstanding foreign debts we owed to Next of Kin's. Fund Beneficiaries and foreign contractors that executed contract with us immediately.
 
In light of this, this present administration under the auspices of the new Civilian Head of State Dr. Good Luck Jonathan the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria within Five days on assumption of office set up this panel to review, verify and to settle all outstanding legitimate foreign debts the Federal Government of Nigeria owed to next of kin's and foreign contractors that executed contract with the Federal Government of Nigeria for the past five years.
 
But sir, a very surprising record was discovered in your payment file that is why you have not been contacted about this since then. Records showed that your inheritance payment has been approved four times and duly completed two times. Also we found out that these funds totaling $42,500,000.00 ( Forty-Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) was transferred directly from the central bank of Nigeria to the below stated bank account on your authorization. This has now resulted in bringing the USA and British Government into the case and we really want you to explain to us what you know about this transfer/payment.
 
                      BANK DETAILS
 
FIFTH THIRD BANK USA
100 HWY 150
P.O BOX 100
COLDSPRING, TX. 77331
ACCOUNT NAME: MICHELLE R. LEWIS
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 578278
ROUTING NUMBER: 113101524
The most baffling part is this payment keeps coming up in every period of debt reconciliation and verification always receives approval like now.
 
NOW OUR QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR FULL PAYMENT OR ANY PART OF YOUR FUND ENTITLEMENT OWED TO YOU BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT? WE NEED THESE ANSWERS FROM YOU WITHIN 24HOURS FROM NOW. AND IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE TODAY, WE WILL ASSUME YOU ARE INVOLVED AND HAVE RECEIVED OVER PAYMENT, WHICH ONE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO NIGERIA
 
Help us to help you, If not call me immediately you receive this message today on my direct number or send me a details email disclaiming the information so that you will be issued with claim identification code (CIC) which will help you to secure your claim and payment from fraudulent officials. And also you will be advised and guided accordingly on how you will receive your legitimate fund entitlement from the Nigerian Government, which will be credited into your nominated bank account within 72hours from now.
 
Let me re-assure you that this is a consortium sort of, because of persons along the line and the developed expertise that will be applied for a hitch free Transfer of the Fund into your Nominated Bank Account.
 
Once again It is important to note that your Fund/Payment was released with the following particulars attached to it.
 
(1) File Number: F1267-2009
(2) Ref. Code :KP23/857/MCL5 /CO
(3) Grant Number: MICC/97846563459/206
(4) Personal Identification Number (PIN): 0866750
Therefore, questions of betrayal and misuse of your information in any way other than has been described would not arise herein.
And you will be required to send us the below stated information for confirmation and record purposes
 
1. Your Full Name:
2. Your Direct Telephone
3. Fax Number:
4. Your Residential Address:
5. Your Current Receiving Banking Details:
 
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation; you are to reply to my email:
 
Regards
Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma
(CHAIRMAN UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
 

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