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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: Maccathy thomas <maccathythomas246@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:57:04 +0000
Subject: Wells Fargo bank address:7435 US-64, Memphis, TN 38133, USA.


Wells Fargo bank
address:7435 US-64, Memphis, TN 38133, USA.

This is to inform you that the U.S Government has instructed us to remit
the sum of $4.5 Million US dollar into your account, the reason for this is
because your name was among the scam victims that lost a lot of money to
African and European Fraudsters, you are hereby advised to without delay
stop all you have going on between you and anybody on the internet because you
will end up at nothing, hence, there are two options to receive your funds.

(1) By Bank to Bank Wire Transfer
(2) By Atm Card.

We are waiting for your immediate response with your information to enable this
bank to proceed immediately with the transfer of your fund and serve you
better.

Do not send money up front fee to anyone from Europe or Africa again for
any reason. The Wells Fargo bank will immediately remit your
account once you reconfirm your banking details.

Congratulations.

Hope to hear from you soon.

yours faithfully
Mr Maccathy thomas

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