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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: "Jacob J. Lew" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office.treasury1472@usa.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 18:11:25 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION RRGARDING YOUR UNCLAIMED FUND.

UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT TREASURY
Department of the Treasury: 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20220 U.S.A
WB-REF WB/OU/14EXBA/04 CODE- Refers.
EXCHANGE CONTROL NO:ECA. 60968
Email: office.treasury1472@usa.com
General Information: 1 (904) 385-9365
Fax: (210) 405-0259

Hello Beneficiary,

How are you doing? Well,in our record.A message was to sent to you regarding your package of $11,000,000.00 USD (Eleven Million United States Dollars) but unfortunately,you never responded..But today,we got a message from one Mrs Mary Kuma who told us that you were involved in an automobile accident and you are dead, and you have appointed her to be your next of kin and she has make up every arrangement to receive the package after meeting up with the required fee of $950 to have the package containing your ATM CARD shipped to her.

So right now,we are using this opportunity to confirm if you are still alive to claim your funds..If i don't hear from you in less than 24hours,then i would have no choice than forward the funds to Mrs Mary Kuma who claimed to us to be your Next of Kin..
Hope to hear from you.

Regards,

Yours Faithfully
Jacob J. Lew
Secretary of the Treasury
(U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Anti-fraud resources: