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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: "Ms Venalisa Abu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msmem2083@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 20:15:44 +0100
Subject: Attention Beneficiary,

Attention Beneficiary,
    
    This is to inform you of your long overdue Payment outstanding in our records. We saw your
 
email address in our Central Computer unit among list of unpaid inheritance claims individuals and
 
have to update your information's through this email contact for immediate confirmation. Your
 
email appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of their overdue fund,
 
Credited to Online Bank ATM Card account that was set up for you and it has been approved already
 
months ago.
    
    However we received an email from one (Mrs.Judith McCree) who told us That she is your next of
 
kin and that you died in a car accident last four months. She has also submitted her contact
 
information's to the office department for the delivery of your ATM Card to her as your inheritor.
 
We are now verifying by contacting your email address as we have in our records before we can make
 
the delivery to her and for us to conclude confirmation if you are dead or not.
    
    Please, confirm response immediately to us before we release your ATM Card to her against your
 
name listed out. Upon this, I request you send your full personal information as soon as possible
 
to Atm Counsellor Office to enable them finalize with the delivery of you ATM Card to you.
    
    Your Full Names: _____________
    Contact Address: _____________
    Mobile Phone: _____________
    Occupation: _____________
    Age: _____________ 
    
    In order to resolve this problem, Please contact (Atm Counsellor Office) immediately for the
 
delivery of your ATM Card via their below contact
    
    Contact Person: MEM JOHNE
    Email Address:  msmem2083@gmail.com
    Email Address:  finecs@live.com
    Phone:          +234-9022127874
    
    Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation
    
    Yours Sincerely
    Venalisa Abu

Anti-fraud resources: