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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: "Dr. Andrew Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithdrew2010@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 03:25:04 +0100
Subject: Reply

>From the Desk of
Dr.. Andrew Smith, Director of Funds
Office of the President.
Abuja-Nigeria.
 
 
 
 
Attention Beneficiary:,
 
 
 
In our office today, One Mr. John T. Kehoe of 122 Fitch Way, Sacramento,
CA.USA 95864 filing application contrary to your pending fund transfer.
The above mentioned person visited this office this morning with a power
of attorney given in his favor by your good self, granting him the benefit
to process and claims your inheritance of $ 10,500,000.00 (Ten Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) for personal reasons. He
further stated that the fund should be wired to his bank as stated below.
 
 
 
Bank Account with Bank Of America,
Account Number # 12,908,576,457
Routing Number # 121 000 358.
 
 
 
Our office have asked Mr. John T. Kehoe to return back to us within
48hours to enable us have a personal confirmation from you being hitherto
the beneficiary. We are sorry to have delayed your instruction in giving
out this fund since we must adhere to the due process of Law by making
sure this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary.
 
 
The President Federal Republic of Nigeria directed the above office to
ensure that the above approved and unpaid funds be released. It is
therefore pertinent to inform you that your payment file has been
transferred to this office since those assigned to process and release the
funds were the reason for the delay of your Payment.
>From today, you should stop every Communication with those in Touch with
you to Avoid further delay of this Transfer. In the Event, you are aware
of this Account Not stated above; you advised to Reconfirm your
 
 
 
Receiving Bank Account ...................
Private Phone number ......................
Contact address and a copy of ...
Your Valid ID .....
so that we can reprocess the funds in your favor.
 
 
 
Your confirmation to the above will be appreciated. We look forward to
hear from you soon.
 
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
 
Dr. Andrew Smith
 
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: