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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: "EDWARD BROWN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardbrown113@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2019 17:53:29 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

UNOFFICIAL MEMO/STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
From The Desk Of Mr. Edward Brown
National Security Adviser to the President
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Tel; +234-9093810165 
 
Dear Certified Beneficiary,
 
I am Mr. Edward Brown, Special adviser to the president Federal Republic of Nigeria and director of foreign contract/inheritance fund payments. On
verification of various official payment files in my office, I discovered
that your name was listed among the foreign beneficiaries entitled to
receive their payment, thus my reason to contact you. Sequel to the
difficulties in transferring huge sums from the Nigerian banks to their
foreign beneficiaries, I have therefore made a secret arrangement to move
your funds out of this country through diplomatic channel, and all necessary  modalities have been automatically concluded to move the fund now from  Nigeria to your country via Cargo Flight with a Diplomatic courier Immunity.
 
Note carefully that the content of the boxes is "Cash-MONEY" but I did not
disclose it to the Courier Company as "Cash-Money", rather I informed them  that the boxes contain Vital "DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" belonging to my client  (that’s you).
 
Furthermore, the weight of the consignment is 68kg which costs me  $4,350  dollars for delivering the consignment to your country, and that has been  taken care of, but on no account should you disclose the content of the  boxes to the Diplomatic Courier agents or any body to avoid them diverting  the boxes containing your funds to a different destination for their own  use, so do not allow them to know that the Consignment boxes contain money.
 
You are advised to get back to me immediately with your mailing address
where the consignment boxes would be delivered to you, and also forward  
your direct telephone number where the diplomats would contact you once they  arrive your state for the delivery of the consignment to you.
 
Awaiting your urgent response.
 
Congratulations and remain blessed.
 
Best Regards,
Mr. Edward Brown.   

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