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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: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" <officialupdates@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <unitednation.update1@y7mail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 01:21:10 -0700
Subject: You can call me here for more verification +234 814 077 1127

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division
Attention: Unpaid Beneficiarry,
 
With due respect, I write to bring to your notice that I came to Nigeria few days ago from USA, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, and the United States of America respectively against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.
I have met with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account. Right now,as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon,We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian international monitoring fund (IMF) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect your compensation payment of Five Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($5.200.000) approved by both the British government and the United Nations into your account without any delay.
The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account,is your your COST OF TRANSFER fee which is US$150 dollars to the United Nations. Sincerely,you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr.Richard Graves from London to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account.
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message or you can call me at +234 814 077 1127 so that I will advise you on how best to confirm your compensation fund in your account before I return back to USA.
 
Sincerely yours,
Ms.Carman L. Lapointe
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight
Phone: +234 814 077 1127

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