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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: "Janet Yellen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <departmnttreasury@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:57:04 +0200
Subject: APPROVED LETTER!!

Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Attention: Valued Beneficiary

Greetings, your inheritance payment of US$10,700,000,00 has been approved for the first quarter payment of the year 2022 and we expect you to adhere to the rules and regulations governing this reputable office. Kindly reply back for immediate processing of your payment.

We apologize for the delay to contact you, It was due to the transition of power.

Signed:
Secretary Janet Yellen,
U.S. Department of the Treasury,
Washington, D.C. 20220, USA.

Anti-fraud resources: