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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: "United Nations" <tsutsui@printnet.co.jp>
Reply-To: mailoffice1f@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:25:36 -0500
Subject: Proposal for mutual benefit. 1


617/618 Diplomatic Zone, Central Area District, Abuja- Federal Capital, Nig=
eria Annex Office. Hello, RE: PAYMENT INSTRUCTION FOR OUTSTANDING CLAIM . I=
am David Smith of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I was mandated by t=
he United Nations to handle all foreign payments awarded and commissioned. =
Based on that files has been forwarded to my office for review and subseque=
nt payment. On the review carried out. I discovered that US$10M was grossly=
over-invoiced and inflated by some officials and the code of conduct burea=
u does not permit civil servants to run or operate foreign account. I am co=
ntacting you just for one reason that the fund can still be paid if I recom=
mend because my discovery has not be revealed to anyone yet and I don't wan=
t to cancel the payment out-rightly. I want to let you know that the fund c=
an be paid if you are ready to follow my advise and work secretly with me d=
ue to the fact that I have interest in the fund . I want to benefit from it=
, I will go ahead and correct the anomalies for the fund to be paid to you =
in seven working days. I will like us to do the business together then I wi=
ll write a favorable report about the claim for the immediate release of th=
e fund. At the precise moment, the claim has been processed, we are irrevoc=
ably mandated to debit the Grant account and credit your account. For stand=
ing as the Beneficiary, 40% goes to you for your maximum support, while 55%=
for m which I intend to invest in your Country while the remaining 5% will=
cover any envisaged expenses. I will be expecting to hear from you for it =
might interest you to note that Ten working days from the moment you acknow=
ledge the receipt of this mail and agree on my terms will be enough to conf=
irm the fund in your account. I await to hear positively from you urgently.=
My Regards, David Smith. UN/FBI Representative.=20

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