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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: "Hon. George Osborne." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Hon_G_Osborne_IMF@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2017 19:49:29 -0000
Subject: CONFIRM THE AUTHENTICITY.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Hon. George Osborne, Governor of International Monetary Fund (IMF) for
United Kingdom.

Your payment file has been forwarded to my desk by the International Monetary
and Financial Committee of the IMF with an application for change of funds
beneficiary in favour of Mr. Croft Amania.

Mr. Croft Amania, an Australian citicen, submitted a letter of claim for your
funds stating that you had given him a Power of Attorney to receive the funds
already approved in your favour. Ten Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars ( US$10.8M) is the amount approved for payment in your favour
as compensation.

You are required to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the application of
claim submitted by Mr Croft.

Your urgent response is being awaited.
.
Yours Faithfully,

Hon. George Osborne.
Governor, IMF, United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources: