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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: "Mr. Donald Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrdonaldj1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 16:29:47 -0700
Subject: Re: Attention Fund Beneficiary,

From: The Desk Of Mr. Donald Johnson
Reference: GTBank Plc.
Address: 402, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway,
Abule-Egba,  Lagos State, Nigeria.
 
Attention: $10.5M ATM Fund Beneficiary,
 
I am Mr. Donald Johnson, the new appointed ATM Head of Operation Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria PLC, I resumed to this office ealier this month. So, during my official research I discovered an abandoned ATM Master card valued sum of $10.5Million with card number 5321452123409380 belonging to you as the rightful intimate beneficiary. I tried to know why this card have not been released to you but I was told that the formal ATM head of operation who left this office two months ago withhold your card for his own personal use without knowing that I will not approve or support him to take your card.
 
Now that your ATM Master card is still available for your pick up, you can come down here in our bank to pick up your card directly from my office or alternatively it can be send to your address through any registered reliable courier service company but at your own cost. I don’t know the cost of shipping the card to you but if you permit me I can make an inquiry from the courier shipment company to find out the cost, but in that case you will be required to forward to me your shipment address to enable me find out the shipment cost to your location.
 
Your direct telephone number and address will be needed and more details of your ATM Master card payment will be made known to you as soon as I receive your swift positive response, to enable you know the amount programmed for your ATM Master Card daily withdrawal.I will send your ATM master card information including your Card Pin Code as soon as you declare your choice of receiving your ATM card so as to enable you receive your card and start making use of it to withdraw at any ATM card machine all over the world as programmed.
 
Do not hesitate to call me on +234 811-614-1461 as soon as you read this mail.
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Mr. Donald Johnson
ATM Head of Operation Department
Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria Plc.
Tel: +234 811-614-1461.

Anti-fraud resources: