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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: STEVE EDWARD <frankegobia777@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrstevedward777@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2021 13:14:59 +0100
Subject: Your Inheritance Payment Notification

Dear Beneficiary,

I am Steve Edward, General manager treasury department First bank, my
office controls and handling the affairs of all foreign banks and
financial institutions in Ecowas state concerned with foreign payments
settlement claims.

Conclusively, I discovered list of funds, which could not be
transferred to some nominated accounts abroad originated from
unclaimed deposits, over-invoiced sum, next of kin, and lottery
organizations. I assumed this office on 11th, October 2020. After
going through the files from my Desk attached with your email address
on it was among the contractor's / beneficiary's expecting the funds
to be transferred into their account, and it is my duty to recommend
the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government Treasury
and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, based on the instructions
received two days ago from the Foreign Debts Reconciliation Dept to
submit the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports
of revenues. Among several others, I have decided to present you the
beneficiary to an inheritance fund sum of $10.5 million dollars. And
subsequently a joint business venture, following my idea that we can
have a Deal / agreement, the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law both in your country and here once the fund is transferred to your
bank account.

The funds $10.5 million dollars I am referring to is right here in
this bank floating in suspense account, therefore i solicit for your
cooperation to be in collaboration with me to have this done,it will
take us 7 working days to complete this transaction and it will be
transferred into an account you will provide any where in the world. I
will need you to provide the following information below to enable an
attorney start the processing all the relevant legal documents in your
name for the fund remittance.

Listen the money will be shared as follows after transfer into your
account, 50% for you (Account Owner) 50% for me the initiator, we will
be purporting your name or your company name the original contractor /
beneficiary of the inheritance funds so all procedures for
international transfer shall be strictly followed.

Therefore, l advise you to send the following information below along
with a scanned copy of your international passport or drivers license.

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Your House Address:
(3) Your Direct Telephone Number:
(4) Your Occupation Status:

I want to reassure you that the Genuity of this transaction cannot be
questioned. It is 100% legal and risk free, all correspondence will be
strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Please reply to this email address : mrstevedward777@yahoo.co.jp

Best regards

Steve Edward

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