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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: "Steven Mnuchin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bernardhills11011@mail15.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2017 07:43:32 -0700
Subject: RE: YOUR PAYMENT APPROVAL

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT RESOLUTION PANEL ON WITHHELD PAYMENTS
 
 
We have taken time to review unsuccessful transactions with most
international inheritance/contract insurance companies and other
foreign banks especially in Africa, Asia and the United Kingdom. We
wish to let you know that we have communicated with most of these
foreign banking institutions withholding most international payments
to individuals and companies so as to find out why these funds were
withheld, the source of the funds and a final solution to these
problems.
 
 
Conclusively, we discovered that most withheld and unpaid funds
originating from lottery organizations, international trading,
company's awarded contract funds and deceased persons were not
properly filed for international funds payment to its intended
beneficiary.
 
 
As such, transfer suspension was placed on these funds because
majority of these international funds remittance/transfer were not
properly recorded by the paying institution for future file
reference/assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
 
 
In joint alliance with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to
resolve this issue, we wish to let you know that we have been
approved to assist you in receiving your awarded funds, the total
sum of Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
($7,500,000.00 USD). We have gone through the security manifest
booklet of all international outstanding transactions and our
extensive investigation confirmed that you are the beneficiary of
this fund through the assistance of the International Criminal
Police Organization (ICPO) to investigate and release suspended
withheld funds to its beneficiaries account abroad, we were able
to gain an Approval Authorization Letter from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) which stated that your funds will be paid to you
on proper confirmation of its claim.
 
 
We wish to inform you once again that there is an existing arrangement
with United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) in New York to
process and pay you the outstanding sum of $7,500,000.00 USD as soon
as you provide the complete requirements needed for them to process
your fund payment case. This was resolved in a meeting held between
the International Financial Auditors (IFA) in Europe and our American
representatives.
 
 
Contact Bernard Hills by clicking on reply, thereby replying to this
email immediately.
 
 
Contact him with below details.
- Full names:
- A scanned copy of your ID or driver’s license:
- Your direct mobile telephone number:
- Your present home address in the case of documents delivery:
 
 
Your nominated Bank Account information shall be requested for
transfer of your funds after confirmation of your funds claims file by
the processing officer.
 
 
By the virtue of the provision of the law which confer on us powers to
advocate, adjudicate, suspend and authorize an immediate transfer of
funds internationally, we hereby state emphatically and without
prejudice that should there be any information that may succeed your
application for unclaimed awarded funds release that are currently
deposited in most foreign banks in Europe, Asia and in Africa, please
do not hesitate to provide the information so that we can help you in
receiving your funds.
 
 
Also note that failure to properly apply for the funds payment will
nullify your chances of receiving your unclaimed funds and funds will
be diverted into the government treasury.
 
 
Regards,
Steven Mnuchin.

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