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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: "Mr.George Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.george00michael@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2019 02:27:09 +0200
Subject: Payment Release!

Beneficiary:
 
Be notified that your payment is among those unnecessarily delayed despite being cleared by the authorized Financial regulatory bodies owing to actions of some unscrupulous individuals. The board has concluded arrangement so as to overturn all these difficulties experienced within this region for huge fund payment release and a Platinum Offshore Card account was opened with in your name and part of your money $5Musd was programmed for release.
 
You are required as a matter of necessity to immediately email your full name, address and contact details with your scan copy of International passport by contacting the payment release officer: MEHMET ARDIS
 
 
He will be handling the clearance of your payment instrument conversion for release in your name.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Mr.George Michael
Director, International Payment
 

Anti-fraud resources: