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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: <skd@maxflowfans.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:59:00 +0100
Subject: PLEASE KINDLY CONTACT Mr.Benjamin Smith WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS(un_wb_assisted_programme@admin.in.th)

UNITED NATIONS (WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME )
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS
870 BLAZA 20 A NEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027

Attention; Beneficially

 

RE: IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT.

We have actually been authorized by the Presidency, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  and the Governing Board, Central Bank of West African States to investigate the unnecessary delay of payment due to foreign contractors, recommend and approve their claims for payment if the report of the unclaimed contract/inheritance funds is genuine.
During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that some abandoned payment was unnecessarily delayed by some corrupt officials of the former paying institutions who are trying to divert your money into their private accounts. However, in order to forestall security on the fund, we programmed it into a form of Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a Transfer Access Code (T.A.C) was also created in your favor.

This will enable only you have direct control over this fund, we have also agreed with the Presidency that we will handle this payment ourselves to avoid the hopeless situation and further delay whatsoever. We obtained an irrevocable payment guarantee in your favor from the Presidency, (ECOWAS). Hence we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendations and instructions. Your entire long suffering Inheritance/Contract fund of $1.5M has been credited in your favor to be paid out through our overseas paying Western Union Service outlet in London. Hence you shall be receiving your funds in US Dollars.

You are therefore advised to contact:

Contact Person:  Mr.Benjamin Smith,
Email Address:  ( un_wb_assisted_programme@admin.in.th )


To receive your original payment slip with your pin and transfer access code and MTCN for the transfer kindly contact the above contact details.
 
Note you are advised to furnish Mr.Benjamin Smith, the details listed below to avoid transfer of this fund into a wrong person.

1) Your full name. ..................................................................
2) Home Telephone and mobile #............................................
3) Full address and your Occupations......................................
4) Your City and Country..........................................................
5) Your Age/Marital status........................................................

Note that the above information will enable him get your original payment slip and identification number (PIN) and also your transfer access code (T.A.C) and MTCN As soon as this information is received.
 
Also be informed that you shall be required to open a non resident account with the West African based Western Union office for the purpose of this transfer.

We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively.
 
Best Regards,
Capt. Mary Gonzalez.
United Nations,
West Africa.

Anti-fraud resources: