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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: "UNITED BANK AFRICA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ubabgroup@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:58:01 -0700
Subject: Re: REPLY

UNITED BANK AFRICA
UBA House
KM 18, Lekki-Epe Expressway,
Near Protea Hotel,
Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.
 
Attn:Sir,
 
This is to bring to your notice that orders given by the Presidency and  the entire house of senate for the year 2015 is that my bank is the chosen bank to pay out all foreign contract/inheritance funds. My bank was ordered after meeting held in the presidential village Aso-Rock Abuja to contact and proceed with payment of your contract/inheritance Funds by informing you that the former bank in charge of your payment via ATM Card being Oceanic Bank plc, Zenith Bank,Union Bank, Eco Bank, ETC is no longer in charge of this payment.
 
I wish to inform you that your ($10.5M) outstanding payment has been approved and ready to be paid but we want to confirm first from you by giving you our mode of payment this arrangement was agreed between the Presidency and the Senate Committees so take note that we have 2 modes of Payment:
 
(1) Diplomatic Delivery: That Is Cash Payment Funds Will Be Delivered To Your Address by A Government Accredited Diplomat
 
(2) ATM Card Payment: An ATM Card Will Be Charged With This Amount with Limited Withdrawals per Day.
 
Reconfirm to this office the following:
 
1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Your Telephone number
4. A copy of your I.D Card
5.  Your decision over a Chosen mode of payment
And we will take it from there.
 
Yours Respectfully,
Christabel William
Director Foreign Payment Department.
United Bank Africa.

Anti-fraud resources: