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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: "Paul Abbate" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paul.m.abbate@daum.net>
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2023 07:18:24 -0700
Subject: Re: FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

                                                                                        Federal Bureau of Investigation
                                                                        Field Intelligence Groups The J. Edgar Hoover Building
                                                                    935 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20535
 
 
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
We sincerely apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of certified mail, postal mail, phone, or face-to-face conversation. It's due to the urgency and importance of the security information of your citizens. I am Paul M. Abbate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Field Intelligence Unit (FIU).
 
We intercepted two consignment boxes at JFK Airport, New York. The boxes were scanned, and they contained a large sum of money ($4.1 million) and also some backup documents that bear your name as the beneficiary or recipient of the money. An investigation was carried out on the diplomat that accompanied the boxes into the United States, and he said that he was to deliver the fund to your residence as an overdue payment owed to you by the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the security company in the United Kingdom.
 
After cross-checking all legal documents in the boxes, we found out that your consignment was lacking two important documents, and since we can't release the boxes to the diplomat until the documents are brought forth, we have no other option but to confiscate your consignment.
 
According to Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Title 26 also contain reporting requirement on Form 8300, Report of Cash Payment Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, money laundering activity may violate 18 USC 1956, 18 USC 1957, 18 USC 1960, and provision of Title 31, and 26 USC 6050I of the United States Code (USC), this section will discuss only those money laundering and currency violation under the jurisdiction of IRS, your consignment lacks proof of ownership certificate from the joint team of IRS and IRC, therefore, you need to reply back immediately for direction on how to procure this certificate to enable us to relieve you of the charge of evading the law, which is a punishable offense in the United States.
 
You are required to reply back within 72 hours or you will be prosecuted in a court of law for money laundering. Also, you are instructed to avoid further contact with any bank(s) or person(s) in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, or any other part of the world regarding your payment because your consignment has been confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation here in the United States.
 
Yours in Service,
Paul Abbate

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