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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: "JO WHELAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ukdebt.serviceoffice@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2017 06:55:57 +0100
Subject: Respond your mail...

 
 
 
 
Attn:Beneficary
I know you will be surprise to read my email, apart from being surprise you may be skeptical to reply back to me because based on what is going on in the internet world, one has to be very careful because a lot of scam are out there to scam innocent citizen and this has made it very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through the internet but this is a different case.
We have been informed this day by the concern authority to have your (FUNDS) release process completed otherwise, the funds will be declared nonserviceable by the bank and consequently, it's confiscation.The time frame is very short and technically,bank transfer is the fastest means of getting this done, so we have reverted to status.
Please if you made any payment to any one in the past or present through Western Union/ Gram/Bank Transfer/ for any kind of transaction contract payment/Inheritance Fund/Lottery Fund/Jackpot/and so on.
Please you are hereby advised to send a copy of the payment slip you used if it’s Western Union/ Gram or Bank Transfer, Just send the copy of the slip transaction to proof that you were scammed before.
If you don’t keep any record of your payment then send to me the email you have being receiving from the people that scammed you or any prove that will enable us to verify and then approve your compensation of fund. As it was instructed by the United Nation[UN] in Collaboration with World Economic Forum[WEF] to pay scam victims.
Reply immediately to acknowledge this advice, and I will instruct you further.
Regards
Klaus Schwab
World Economic Forum
Global Debt Management Office

Anti-fraud resources: