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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: "Floyd Schwartz" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrbenjaming@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2019 17:21:15 -0700
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary.

Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to officially notify you that, we have apprehended the officials behind the delay in releasing your contract/inheritance payment of US$3.5M for several years. The sum of US$3.5M will be processed and released to you this last quarter of 2018.

Some group of corrupt official working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) here in US, Canada and in the United Kingdom conspired to siphon your US$3.5M to their private account overseas.

Processing and release of your payment will be made either by wire transfer or certified ATM card. Without further delay, we need you to make a choice of payment and also reconfirm your address, names, occupation, telephone numbers and a valid ID in order to update your file with the legal processing/payment office.

For security reason, stop all communications with whom ever you are dealing with at this point immediately because they only want to steal your money.

Thank,

Floyd Schwartz

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