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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ussecretaryofstates2016@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2016 09:10:34 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,

U.S. Department of State
United States Secretary of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
*************24 HRS SERVICE ***************

Your ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped Through DHL To Your Address:

Good Day,

I am Mr. John Forbes Kerry, The United States Secretary of State and I was sworn in On February 1, 2013 as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States in a ceremony attended by President Barack H. Obama, and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. , see below:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/203657.htm

This is to inform you officially that after our investigations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other Security Agencies in the Country for the year ended 2015, we discovered that you have not receive your Outstanding Payments.

I have made it my first point of call since taking office to settle all Outstanding Payments accrued to Individuals or Corporations with respect to local and overseas contract payment, Debt Rescheduling and Outstanding Compensation payment. This is to make sure all Outstanding payments are settled before United States presidential election, 2016. On Behalf of the entire staff of the US Department of State and the US Government in collaboration with World Bank, we apologize for the delay of your contract payment, Compensation fund, Winning or Inheritance funds from most of African Countries and all the inconveniences you encountered while pursuing this payment. However, from the records of outstanding beneficiaries due for payment with the US Secretary of State, your name was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding payment who has not yet received their payments. Note that from the record in my file, your outstanding contract payment is $3.5 Million Dollars loaded in an ATM Visa Card that allows you

I have your file here in my office and it says that you are yet to receive your fund valued at US$3,500,000.00. We have perfected all modules on how to bring this fund to your house without any problem, but be aware that United Nations and the United States Government has only authorized my office to release the Sum of $3,500,000.00 to you as true beneficiary of the Fund. Note that your loaded ATM Visa Card will be mailed to you through Priority Mail Express (DHL) to your designated address immediately you admit full compliance to this email. You are advised to kindly reply this email with the below details enclosed to help ensure safe mailing of your ATM Visa Card:

Your Full Name: ...............
Your House Address: ...............
Your Phone Number: ..........
Your Country: ..............
Your Occupation: ..........
Your Age: .......................
Copy of Your I.D: ....................
Email address: ..................

NOTE: Every documentation proof for your fund have been packaged and seal to be mailed together with your Visa Card to your address. Therefore, As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment will be made to you immediately, We advice that you stop any further communication with any correspondence from Nigeria or any other Office, We know that your representatives will advise you to still go ahead with them, which will be on your own risk.

I need all the compliance that I can get from you to ensure we get this project accomplished. Personally, I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instructions which are meant for your sole benefit, once again accept my congratulations in advance.

Thanks for your cooperation as your quick response to this email notice with adherence to the above instructions is highly anticipated.

Signed:
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. John Forbes Kerry,
United States Secretary of State.

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