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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: "Abdul Hassan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bankplc_union@ymail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:58:20 -0700
Subject: Did you sent this woman? Please confirm receipt!

MR. BENJAMIN OKOH
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.
REF:NO:UBN/IRD/UBX/021/14

DEAR BENEFICIARY!

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT OUR BANK HAS BEEN NOMINATED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS,AND YOUR OVER-DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED TO YOU, VIA AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM) SWIFT MASTER CREDIT CARD, AND TO BE DELIVERED AT YOUR DOOR STEP BY UPS EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES.

MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION’S FOR YOU TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE IF THIS WOMAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT OUR BANK WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR RELEASING YOUR
FUND TO A WRONG PERSON.

CLAIMER'S NAME: MRS. JANET WHITE) BANK NAME: CITI BANK ARIZONA, USA. ACCOUNT NUMBER:6503809428.ROUTING.314085504. PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU.

YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND RETURN THIS MESSAGE FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND ALREADY PROGRAMMED INTO THE SECURED ATM CARD WILL BE DELIVERED AT YOUR DOOR STEP AS PLANNED WITHOUT FURTHER WASTE OF TIME. THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR BEHALF. INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU FOR VERIFICATION ARE AS FOLLOWS;

1. YOUR FULL NAME:...................
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS:................
3. YOUR TELEPHONE....................
4. COPY OF YOUR ID...................
5. AGE...............................
6. SEX:..............................
7. YOUR OCCUPATION:..................

AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE ABOVE DETAILS, WE SHALL MOVE TO FINALIZE ARRANGEMENT WITH UPS COURIER SERVICES ON THE DELIVERY PROCESS. THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER-DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN REMITTANCE OPERATIONS TO FACILITATE ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE DEBT PAYMENTS BEFORE THE END OF LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR 2014.

HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO DISPATCH THE ATM CARD WITH ALL THE PERSONAL AND SECRET DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS. WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. THEREFORE, WE SOLICIT FOR YOUR KIND AND URGENT COOPERATION TO THIS REGARD TO SERVE
YOU BETTER.

THANK YOU,

MR. BENJAMIN OKOH
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA.

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