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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 MICHAEL COLLINS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drmichaelcollinns1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 May 2016 12:49:20 +0200
Subject: TRANSFER OF $20.5M DOLLARS.....Reply

Attention: Beneficiary. Sir/Madam
 
WORLD BANK AUDITORS/INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (IMF) has meeting with the British Government, Nigeria and as we received a report of scam against you and other British/US citizens Etc. The countries of Nigeria have recompensed you following the meeting held with the four countries' Government and various countries' high commission for the fraudulent activities carried out by the four countries' Citizens.
 
Your name was among those scammed as listed by the Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU). Compensation has been issued out Funds to all the affected victims and has been already been in distribution to all the bearers. Your draft was among those that were reported undelivered as at on Friday and we wish to advise you to see to the instructions of the Committee to make sure you receive your Funds immediately.
 
According to the number of applicants at hand, 184 Beneficiaries has been paid, half of the victims are from the United States, and we still have more 37 left to be paid the inheritance fund of Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (US$20.5M USD). Signed by British Government of United Kingdom, On behalf of IMF
 
Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason whatsoever as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other criminals.
 
Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (TOM BROWN) Thereby making him the current beneficiary with his following account details?
 
MR TOM BROWN,
AC/NUMBER: 6503809428.
ROUTING/122006743,
B/NAME: CITI BANK,
ADDRESS: NEW YORK, USA,
 
We shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr. TOM BROWN, if we do not hear from you within the next two working days from today.
 
Dr. Michael Collins/Mrs. Evelyn Coker
World Bank Auditors
Director Foreign Remittance Department/Special Duties
Office Hot Line +234-12952920 or Mobile Number +234-81680678889

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