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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "World Bank Nigeria" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <danieljames@worldbankng.onmicrosoft.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 14:26:51 -0500
Subject: [97-50]-Fund Approved for payment $10.5Million Usd (Get Back To Us Immediately)

Attention: Sir/Madam
 
 
Good day. I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information.
I am writing to inform you about the new development on your funds which has been in my Bank over a year now.
 
It is our duty to inform you about  the Release and Approved of your funds $10.5 Million USD for payment and we understand that you may have not been notified about your (COMPENSATION/INHERITANCE FUNDS) was has been approved by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA / CBN in your favor for payment, so I decided to contact you by your email and see if I can be of good help to you.
As a New Bank Manager in My Bank, I notice that you have not received these funds due to some problem which has been delaying your funds from getting directly to you and It was made clearer to me by the director of the (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  EFCC), he started that the reason why this funds has not get to you is due to so many scam going on the internet which people used fake Identity to contact you by getting you scammed off your earning.
 
Without wasting much time, I will like to know from you directly to confirmed why Your Funds has not yet been paid to you and also reconfirm the below information for confirmation to help us serve you better.
 
FULL NAMES......................
CONTACT ADDRESS...................
OCCUPATION....................
COUNTRY....................
AGE......................
SEX..........................
MOBILE NUMBER......................
 
At this stage, I will be waiting for your immediate responses to this email in other to help us get this funds directly to you.
Reply Back as you read.
 
Best Regard
Mr. Daniel James
World Bank Nigeria  MD.

Anti-fraud resources: