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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: "Federal Reserve Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frboffice@webmail.hu>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2017 13:17:00 +0200
Subject: URGENT PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER

Federal Reserve Bank New York
Ref.: Payment Release Update.
Amount Valued: US$4,500,000.00
 
                                  Foreign payment allocation security code (US/A84PRFGN2017)
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
By means of this message, we wish to inform you that your hour of compensation and actualization has come after our meeting with the United Nations, Bank of America, South African Reserve Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank officials, it has been agreed that your approved funds valued US$3,500,000.00 and the compensation of US$1,000,000.00 (Total US$4,500,000.00) will now be processed and released to your Bank Account through Wire Transfer Department of the Federal Reserve Bank, New York.
 
However, it may interest you to know that after the meeting with the Bank of America, South African Reserve Bank and Office of the Director, the on-line account department has entered into full partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank. Your funds of US$4,500,000.00 will be credited to you by the Wire Transfer Department of the Federal Reserve Bank as soon as you make contact with me.
 
To this effect, you are to contact us with the details below for the immediate release of your funds.
 
Full Name:-----------------------
Address:-----------------------
Country:-----------------------
Telephone:-----------------------
Mobile:-----------------------
Alternative Email:-----------------------
Your id or international passport:-----------------------
 
Thanks for banking with Federal Reserve Bank New York while we looking forward to serving you.
 
Thanks and Congratulations in Advance.
 
Best Regards,
 
MRS. JANET L. YELLEN (Chair Of The Board Of Governors)
THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
 
 
NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, that is because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service Provider.

Anti-fraud resources: