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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: "JAMES B.COMEY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbi.usa1950@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2017 02:25:59 -0500
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed For Your Payment

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS (F.B.I)
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC. JAMES B.COMEY
BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
E-Mail: fbi.usa1950@outlook.com
 
Our Ref: FBI /0N8/CONTRACT NO.856.
Motto: Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity
 
Greetings My Dear
 
This is James B.Comey,the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), I am here in Africa as an FBI/ United States delegate that have been delegated to investigate fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that has transactions in Africa.
 
Please be informed that during our investigations we found out that there is a total amount of $1.2 Million that has been assigned in your name as the beneficiary but those fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund,these are the works of the people who needed to extort money from you in the name of this transfer,We have to inform you that we have arrested some men in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Africa here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
 
These criminals will be caught unaware and I don't want them to know this new development to avoid jeopardizing my investigation,you need to conceal anything that has to do with this exercise to enable me get all the necessary information required.
 
I shall be expecting your swift response as soon as you receive this email and notify me of any message or phone call you receive from those people for me to investigate on it before you make any contact with them.
 
In case if found this message in spam folder, it could be due to your Internet Service Provider, ISP. So kindly move to your inbox before replying.
 
Regards.
JAMES B.COMEY
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS (F.B.I)

Anti-fraud resources: