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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: "Federal Bureau of Investigation IC3" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbi.ic3@usa.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2020 11:15:29 +0100
Subject: Dear Esteemed Beneficiary

Dear Esteemed Beneficiary,
 
This is to bring to your notice from the Executive Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI that your outstanding contractual / inheritance payment which was suspended as a result of this development verification conducted by the Finance Ministry in conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your contract case file which has been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations.
 
In view of several efforts and investigations already made by us to contact you for the following reasons based on the new account submitted to this office on your behalf:
 
(1)(4) My Office desks have just received a sworn affidavit from Mr.Jim Hermann to re-route your payment into a new bank account.
 
The sum of US$ 45,000,000.00Million US Dollars ( FOURTY MILLION US Dollars)
(2)(4) Please, confirm to our office if you have instructed Mr. Jim Hermann who is a family of yours to appoint an attorney/agent on your behalf thereby asking that he receive cash call remittance on your behalf.
 
(3)(4) It have come to our notice that you are being contacted by unauthorized individuals with respect to your Contract / Inheritance payment but unfortunately this office is not aware of your unofficial dealings and warned that it is at your own risk to stay in  contact with them because we re the ones fully in charge of your fund transaction investigation.
 
(4)(4) Please, also confirm if you have authorized Mr. Jim Hermann to change your banking particulars. Also re-confirm your details and, Private Telephone, your e-mail address, so that we can cross-check it with our file records.
 
We have decided to contact you for re-verification because we suspected that Mr. Jim Hermann is trying to divert your money through the sworn affidavit into a new different bank account. You are advised to get back to this office within 7days from today.
 
 
Best Regards
Mr. Christopher A. Wray
Executive Director of FBI
For Inquiries Call or sms me on :- +1(509)563-3698

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