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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: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <c.lapointeunig@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 22:55:16 -0700
Subject: Re: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED FROM MS. CARMAN L. LAPOINTE.???

United Nations Office of International Oversight Services (OIOS)
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
From: Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight Services
 
 
 
Attention,
 
 
It is my pleasure to introduce myself, My name is Ms. Carman L. Lapointe. I am the Head Of United Nations Under-Secretary-General For Internal Oversight Services assigned by the United Nations to settle Nigeria debt to her beneficiaries. For more information about me kindly click on the below link or copy and paste on your web browser.
 
 
As directed by UN secretary General, we are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Government agencies to effect your overdue payment worth USD10.5M into your account or issue you ATM Card worth the amount if you wish without any further delay as your payment is approved as instructed by the UNITED NATIONS.
 
 
In order to get paid instantly and without any hitch there is need for you to contact me urgently so that I will advice you what must be done to get your entitlement paid to you. Once this is done, we shall have HSBC BANK to effect your overdue payment worth USD10.5M only into your account as one of the official bankers of the United Nations. I am here now with others with other United Nations expatriate and I can assure you that your problems all these years of your payment are over. I am well determined to assist you because I am a Woman and a Mother so I understand your pain.
 
 
Note that I have a very limited time to stay here in Nigeria, so I would want you to urgently respond to this message so that we can proceed with your payment, while I advise you on what to do in order to receive your long awaiting entitlement. Kindly get back to me with your full name, address and direct phone number immediately to commence your payment process.
 
 
 
Looking forward to your good understanding and co-operation.
 
 
Awaiting your immediate reply.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight Services
 

Anti-fraud resources: