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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: "MRS. GLENDA COMBE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsglenda.comde@live>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 22:23:34 +0100
Subject: Very Important Payment Message

Contact Person: Mr. kelly Fields/Mrs. Glenda Combe.
With the on going reform in the banking sectors here following the sacking of Five bank chief executives who has contributed to all the fraudulent activates which pose as an impediments to the release of your approved funds over the years, it is imperative to inform you that, a reprieve has been given for the immediate release of all the delayed funds approved to their legitimate owners thus:
Previously, a lot of communication has been sent to you by persons who deviated from the assignment given to them due to their own selfish interest thereby delaying the release of all the approved funds to their real owners instead after collecting/extorting fees from the  beneficiary's, they abandoned their files or better still liaise with other foreigners to divert the funds to different account/country order than the country/account of the real beneficiary and for this reason, all the previous power conferred to all the ministry's in the country and their offshore affiliate for the release of these funds to their owners has been revoked forthwith.
Due to some fraudulent activities associated with all the delays in the release of these funds, as well as identification theft, the Federal executive board decided that all those whose Funds has not been effected before now should choose the option they want to from  either of this two that is:  Atm Swift Card, And  by International Certified bank draft. This is the only approved ways of Funds Release, to avoid anyone asking you for your personal information and bank account which a times goes into the wrong hands or smuggled out from the computer system of the bank by those associate criminal elements who has their  contact person inside the bank thereby endangering the personal information of beneficiary's, for this reason any request for your bank details should be regarded as fraudulent and please don't give anybody your bank account information no matter what the reason may be.
For us to proceed with the release of the funds to you all you need to do is to send the following information: the payment option you choose and the names you want the draft or the  card to be issued on, address for delivery and finally your telephone number-direct.
send the information to:
Mr. Kelly Fields/Mrs. Glenda Combe
Executive Directors
Citi Group,
Foreign Remittance Dept.
As soon as this information is received, your fund will be release to you through any of the option you choose. The approved amount due will be given to you immediately you respond to  this message.
Best Regards.
Mrs. Glenda Combe/
Mr. Kelly Fields
Sec. Foreign Settlement Department Manager

Anti-fraud resources: