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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: The World Bank Group <info@worldbankgroup.org>
Reply-To: wcreditors@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:48:33 +0100
Subject: Re: ALERT FROM THE WORLD BANK GROUP

THE WORLD BANK GROUP,
15TH FLOOR, NEWZERLAND HOUSE HAYMARKET
LONDON SW1Y 4TE, ENGLAND
Our Ref: WBG/PRS/UK-FR/007-2014/IWP
 
 
 
 
                    ALERT FROM THE WORLD BANK GROUP ...PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.
 
 
 
Attetion: Beneficiary,
 
 
There is an issue with the World Bank Group London regarding your part-payment value at TWO MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($2,800.000.00) directed and credited to file SRN/8023118308/14, and which has now been reverted in couple of hours ago due to the Security Act.
 
 
We picked up your file because it was handled in a terrible way. We received FUND RELEASE ORDER from MR. LIN YOUNG to receive your payment. Please confirm with department if you have instructed Mr. YOUNG to receive your payment on your behalf.
 
 
We wait your urgent response.
 
Yours in service.
 
Dr. Tony Richardson
The World Bank Group London, UK.
©2014 The World Bank Group, All Rights Reserved.

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