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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: "U.S. Department of the Treasury" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <visacardv1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2017 07:07:48 -0700
Subject: Your Payment Is Approved

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Compensation AWARD 2017 has approved your payment .
 
 
 
UNITED NATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAM
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX02017.
 
 
 
Attention : Sir/ Madam
 
 
This is to inform you that your payment has been approved by Mr.Steven T. Mnuchin, nominated On February 13, 2017 as the Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury wishes to inform you that there is an on-going reimbursement payment program, were with the help of the (OFAC) the United Nations, world bank and the United States Government is reimbursing scammed victims globally who may have one way or the other happen to lost outrageous amount of money to impostors claiming to be individuals, bank staffs nor organizations for the release of your numerous sums of fund via numerous ways which they do not have access to.
 
 
We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this has been agreed upon and has been signed. You are advised to contact Mr Mark Lucas who is in charge of your payment through our office as he is our representative. Contact him immediately for more information on how to get your compensation of U.S $500,000 USD payment from the VISA CARD Verification Department
 
 
 
Therefore We have received a mandate and instructions from the (OFAC) and authorities involved here at the U.S Treasury Department to commence the immediate release of your reimbursement payment valued at just ($500,000) Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only which has been endorsed for remittance to you accordingly in a legal moral and ethical way. Which is why I have contacted and to let you know that the United States Department for Justice, in The Person of the Attorney General will get some documents for you so that this transaction can be completed without delay.
 
 
This program is to sanitize the image of Africa that has stained by the activities of scammers and fraud stars by paying up all beneficiaries pending funds accordingly. All payment will be via Bank transfer certified bank from our foreign treasury account. Therefore,you should furnish him with the following pieces of information:
 
 
1.Your full names
2.Direct telephone number/Fax Number
3.Mailing address
4.Age
5.Occupation
 
 
Person to Contact: Mr Mark Lucas
Email: visacardv1@gmail.com
For further inquiries call: +1 (646)-568-5418.
 
 
The Department Officer Mark Ford will provide you with instructions on how you can receive your reimbursement payment accordingly through any of your preferred channel of delivery depending on your choice. All documentation that will be backing up your payment claim shall be obtained and a scanned copy will be sent to your email nor fax machine as proof for verification.
 
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Anderson Benson
 
 
Cc: Mr.Steven T. Mnuchin
Treasury Secretary Main Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220

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