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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: "RICHARD DOUGLAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <douglasricharddptm@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 19:14:21 +0200
Subject: Beneficiary......PAYMENT

Attention: Sir/Madam
 
On behalf of the Department Of Treasury Direct-Account Washington DC, and United Nations Cash Grant Award Payment, we wish to notify you as a beneficiary of $20.5 million dollars in compensation of scam victims, you are the next person to pay for the (Scam victims) am here to inform you that we have verified your inheritance file presently on my desk, and I found out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations giving to you in respect to your inheritance payment.
 
Secondly, you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials in the bank or any offices as this is an illegal act and you have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately. After the board meeting held at our headquarters, we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem, and as you may know, we have arranged your fund $20.5 million through our Online bank to bank transfer or ATM Master Card, which is the instruction given by Department Of Treasury Direct-Account Washington DC and United Nations Cash Grant Award Payment to you.
 
Below is the information needed from you urgently?
 
1) Your Full Name……………
2) Your Mobile Number and Fax……….
3) Your Home address………………
4) Your age and Occupation
5) Your Bank Details
 
I wait for your urgent respond for the claims of your fund.
 
Thanks for your maximum co-operation.
 
Richard Douglas
Department Of Treasury Direct-Account
United Nations Fund's Remittance

Anti-fraud resources: