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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: "Dr.Joan Clos I Matheu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elvis.johnson17@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:58:02 +0500
Subject: Attention;

Attention;
 
This is coming to you in regards to the recent meeting within the United Nations based on the Agreement with the World Bank Assistance Project.
 
This email come to those who are yet to receive their compensation/inheritance/winnings and who have been scammed in any part of the world, this includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people who had unfinished transaction or Compensation payments which failed due to Government problems etc. The UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate you with the sum of $4,700,000.00 USD (Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
 
Your name and email was in the list submitted by our Monitoring Team observers and this is why we are contacting you, this has been agreed upon and signed. You are advised to contact Mr. Elvis Johnson, as he is our representative in the USA. Contact him immediately for your Compensation payment of $4,700,000.00 USD (Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which will be released directly to you through an ATM MasterCard in accordance with legal clearance and procedures.
 
However, you should send him your Full Name/Telephone Number/Residential Address/Gender and Occupation.
 
Contact Mr. Elvis Johnson immediately for your compensation payment by replying to this email or emailing the address below:
 
Mr. Elvis Johnson
Email: elvis.johnson17@yahoo.com
 
I expect your urgent attention to this email to enable me monitor this payment effectively. Most importantly you shall be requested to pay the sum of $350 only covering the application fee, processing fee, evaluation fee and mailing cost of your ATM MasterCard with 100% no extra charge or hidden fees involved. Payment will be made to our payment office in the USA only.
 
Good luck and kind regards,
Making the world a better place!
 
Yours Faithfully,
Dr.Joan Clos I Matheu.
Executive Director United Nations Human Settlements Programme
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)

Anti-fraud resources: