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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: "Barrister Johnson Willaims" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsonwilliams11@googlemail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 06:28:09 -0700
Subject: Are You Aware Of This Development??

 
FROM THE DESK OF THE MINISTER
Hon (Mrs) OkONJO-IWELA
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
5th Floor, Annex 3, New Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way,
Central Area Lagos - Nigeria .
 
 
Good Day
 
I'm directed to contact you by the (WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND )to urgently confirm from you if actually you know one Mrs Joy William and COLLEAGUES who claim to be your business associate/ partner in your country .
 
The said Mrs Joy Williams is claiming to us that you are dead and she will like to change all the Information that you gave to us as our bonafide beneficiary. Below is the new banking information were he wish to have this funds transferred to:-
 
Bank of America
6901 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132
ABA: 026009593 (International)
ACCT. #:003042656833
ACCT: Name: FMS Investments Inc.
Signatory: Floyd M. Shealy
 
This development is coming up now that the Ministry want to offset all your outstanding payments to all our legal foreign beneficiaries around the world in which your payment file was affected.As you may know, the total amount in your favor is a total sum of $7.5 Million U.S Dollars. We need to confirm from you if it's really true that you are dead and If we did not hear from you it automatically means that you are actually dead and the information passed to us by Mrs Joy Williams and is correct.
 
You are to contact me  as soon as you receive this message so as to know the true position of things with you so that we would not
make any mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.
 
Your swift response will help this ministry a lot. Do email me with your Full names and Direct Cell Number for an easy communication, your age and occupation to this effect.
 
Regards
 
Barrister Johnson Williams
Secretary to Hon (Mrs) OkONJO-IWELA.
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
 

Anti-fraud resources: