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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: "Mrs Gwen Hines" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gwenhines17@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 12:36:04 +0100
Subject: YOUR FUND PAYMENT IS READY

 
Dear beneficiary,
 
I am a Senior staff of World Bank Regional office in USA. I am aware of the problems which you have been going through all this while in getting a fund which was deposited with the World Bank on your name. I will only want  to give you more information about the fund if you are ready to work with me and keep every thing to your self and even to whosoever that has been assisting you in this matter.
 
Presently with the vital information??s i was made to understand that you are financially broke on the cause of this business which has lasted years without any profitable result .If you ignore this mail note  that you have ignore the road to achieve your goal in life and all your long time suffering will totally be in vain.
 
I will be retiring from the office very soon, this more reason why i want to help you in this matter if only you will agree to give me 15% of the fund as soon as i assist you in the release of money into your home account.
 
Also, is not right for a banker to be involved in a matter of this nature, so please you need to promise me that you will keep it as a top secret between both of us and i will help you out in getting this money, it will sound so bad that our bank find out that am involved in this transaction and this will surely course me my job.
 
The ball is now on your court, on what you think and what you want for yourself in this issue, just try  and see what will be the result under 48 hours of your respond.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Gwen Hines
Executive director (World Bank)

Anti-fraud resources: