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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.James Walsh" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 00:11:21 +0100
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD IS READY FOR DELIVERY NOW

Attn: Dear Sir/Ma,

I write to inform you that your United Nations Compensation fund of US$10.7 Million Dollars which the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon approved to be paid to all those who have lost some money as a result of scam on the internet of which your name is included, has been programmed into an ATM Card and is ready for delivery via FedEx Courier Services to your doorstep right now.

You are entitled to withdraw the sum of US$150,000.00 dollars daily from this card but it will depend on the withdrawal limit of ATM cards in your country. Our ATM Visa card is inter switched meaning that you can use it on any ATM Machine anywhere in the world.

Kindly forward your full names, telephone number and complete receiving home address where you will like to have the card dispatch it to you immediately you receive this notification.

Please note that the first quarter payment for the year is almost ending and as such, we would like to make sure that you get your Card before the first week of March 2014.

Kindly treat this message as very urgent.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Jamal Isah.
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE
ABUJA, NIGERIA,
WEST AFRICA.

Anti-fraud resources: