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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "State Inheritance Committee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomatsshenry@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2017 02:08:56 +0800
Subject: Congratulations

Greetings,
 
 
 
This is to officially inform you that your ATM card number: 3774 2856 7847 9006 worth Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand ($8.5 Million USD) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2017. The card center will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE Center around the world.
 
Your personal identification code is ATM- 7997. Contact the verification & delivery officer  (Mr.) Henry Waters on: (diplomatsshenry@gmail.com) with the following requirements below for proper verification and claim processing:
 
NOTE:
 
You are also required to send to the verification officer/delivery agent a means of Identification which should be a scan copy of your Drivers License or International Passport for proper identification and authentication.
 
Best Regards
 
STATE INHERITANCE COMMITTEE.

Anti-fraud resources: