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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: "U.S. Department of the Treasury (service@treasury.gov)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <finance-control@accountant.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:15:00 +1000
Subject: Read Directives To Complete Transaction

The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasury Annex
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220
United States of America
Tel: +1-(202) 622-2000
Fax: +1-(202) 478-0979
 
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
 
Our Ref: USA/TREAS/898ATCP
Your ref: USA/IMF/2840/259
 
 
                                      IMF DIRECTIVES TO COMPLETE TRANSACTION
 
Strictly follow this security instruction below and do not disregard any letter from our department.
 
This is to inform you that we have taken time to review your online email communication messages on your unsuccessful transactions with most international financial institutions and lottery organizations including foreign banks especially in Africa and Europe. We have contacted most of these financial institutions to find out the source of your unpaid funds, the reason for a delay in payment and a final solution to this problem.
 
Conclusively, we discovered that your fund was placed on hold because majority of these international fund remittance/transfer of over the total sum of $500,000 and above to private or business accounts, usually carried out by foreign banks, private or commercial courier companies were not properly registered by the paying institution for proper assessment purposes by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Services Authority.
 
In joint alliance with the International Monetary Fund to resolve this issue, we have gone through your file and our extensive investigation confirmed that you are the original owner of this fund but only the total sum of 5,000,000.00 USD was approved for payment. Through my involvement in resolving this case, I will be making every necessary documentation required to enable you receive your funds immediately after you provide the requirements needed to complete this transaction. You are therefore advised to provide your full name, home address and telephone number for verification before payment.
 
Failure to provide the required information will nullify your chances of receiving your fund and this fund will be confiscated or made to be forfeited under the Money Laundering and other Financial Crime Prohibition Act of 2003.
 
Forward your details or email it to: sarah.bl@secretary.net for assistance.
 
Regards,
Ms. Sarah Bloom Raskin,
Deputy Secretary,
Foreign Assets Control.
U.S. Department of the Treasury.
============================================
Questions about this information should be directed to
The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Telephone: +1-(206) 259-6650.
 

Anti-fraud resources: