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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: "WORLD BANK GROUP" <info@menelik.org>
Reply-To: mw1192704@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:26:08 -0700
Subject: RE: APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF ACCOUNT

DEAR BENEFICIARY,

APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF ACCOUNT

WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) AND
WORLD BANK GAVE INSTRUCTION TO OUR BANK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
OUTSTANDING PAYMENT IS PAID TO YOU BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

YOUR NAME WAS AMONG THE LISTED BENEFICIARY THAT WAS PROGRAMMED TO ME
BE PAID. WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF THE ACCOUNT DETAILS YOU SEND TO US TO
CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

THEREFORE, WE ARE USING THE BELOW ACCOUNT TO CREDIT YOUR TEN MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS AS YOU HAVE SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE.
THE CREDITING BANK WILL BE INFORMED OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

DO CONFIRM THE ACCOUNT ONCE MORE IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT
INFORMATION BELOW.

ACCOUNT NAME : KENNETH KRONENBERGER
ACCOUNT NUMBER:3105933640
ROUTING NUMBER: 256074976
BANK NAME AND ADDRESS: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION TX USA


WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR RESPONSE.

YOU ARE ADVISED TO RESPOND TO THIS MAIL URGENTLY OR WE WILL TRANSFER
THE FUND TO THE ABOVE ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED.

REGARDS,

MICHAEL WILSON
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
WORLD BANK GROUP WC. USA

Anti-fraud resources: