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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 ALLEN. DOUGLAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drdouglasrichard2020@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 13:08:42 +0100
Subject: Beneficiary......PAYMENT

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.
TREASURY BUILDING 1500 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NW WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.
Our Ref: FGS /SNT/STB
 
Dear Beneficiary the fact is that you can’t seem to trust anyone again towards your approved beneficiary fund payment here just because of what you have been in cantered with other peoples, but listen our office cannot liar or deceive you, the US$390 you were ask to pay is needed in your name to obtain your Fund payment Release Transfer Clearance Certificate at the Bureau office here, the fee of US$390 is clearly written to all the beneficiaries, our office did not invent the fee to defraud you or anybody, it is an official Clearance Certificate fee of your fund Release , and the good part of this, is that after this fee you will receive your approved fund without any body to disturbed you again over any kind of fee, you are hereby implore to divulge to us on how you want your Funds enacted to you from the below listed means of funds transfers.
 
1. ATM CARD: The funds will be loaded in an Automated Teller Machine 'ATM Card' and it will sent to you via DHL Courier Service for you to activate it in any ATM Machine close to you and make sure you change the Personal Identification Number 'PIN Number' to your preferred PIN Number and start withdrawing your fund from any ATM machine.
 
2. CERTIFY CHEQUE: You will be sent a Certify Cheque via DHL Courier Service to be taken to your bank or any bank close to you with approved documentations that will come along with the Cheque, clearing the funds to be paid to you with any form of Identification you present to them.
 
3. TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT: Your funds will be transferred instrumentally into your bank account through Key Telegraphic Transfer and it will require you to present to your bank the  funds transfer documents that will we be sent to you before you will be allowed to start withdrawal the funds from your Bank.
 
This is final, once our office receive the US$390 from you to obtain your Fund payment Release Transfer Clearance Certificate at the Bureau office here, the Certificate will present to the paying bank then the paying Bank will release your fund to you without any delay.  I don’t want you to lose your fund this time, because you may never get such good opportunity again,
 
The Federal Government of United State of America  is keen and very determined to pay all the beneficiaries overdue debts, this is not a fluke, I don't want you to lose your fund out of ignorance, I will send you all your fund payment documents as soon as you send the US$390 fee needed in your name to obtain your Fund payment Transfer Clearance Certificate at the Bureau office here, you have to trust me and our office here, you will receive your approved fund this time around, find a way to send the US$390 you will not lose it, instead it will bring your financial Breakthrough, find the US$390 and send it to our office bursary.
 
Finally my advice is for you not to abandon this because of the requirement of (US$390) the receiver is our office bursary is available to receive the US$390 through our account officer
 
As soon as you get back to me I will send you information on how to make the payment through our account officer bank details.
 
Thanks,
 
Dr. Richard Allen. Douglas
Department Of Treasury Direct-Account
United Nations Fund's Remittance

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