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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: "MARK EDDWIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <national.west@accountant.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2020 23:31:34 -0800
Subject: BEST REGARDS

Dear Sir/Ma,

Please confirm if you authorized the change of name and your account coordinate to this below. The sum of USD5.5M was approved on your behalf for your

Contract/Inheritance compensation by the NATWEST BANK,and suddenly someone requested for change of your Bank Account Details.

SOVEREIGN BANK
ROUTE# 37
MANCHESTER NEW JERSEY
08439 USA
ACCT NAME: Anthony Thomsen
ACCT No: 1390189332
ROUTING No: 232452696

Did you authorize for the change?. We need an urgent response immediately.
Regards,

Richard Maguire
Natwest Bank Plc
135 Bishop Gate,
EC2M 3UR
London United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources: