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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: "COMPENSATION UNIT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <2010offer@officer.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:47:40 +0100
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?

ATTN:Sir/Madam,
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family?,You may not understand why this mail came to you.
 
In regards to the recent meeting between the United Nations and the Present  United States Government to restore the dignity and Economy of the Nations.Base on the Agreement with the World Bank Assistance to help and  make the world a better place for all with the sole aim of abolishing  poverty.
 
We have been having a meeting for the passed 7 months which ended 2 days ago with the then secretary to the UNITED NATIONS.
 
This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$ 250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)This includes every foriegn contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to
Government problems etc.
 
Your name and email was in the list submitted by our Monitoring Team of Economic and Financial Crime Commission observers and this is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.
 
You are advised to contact Mr.Greg Saviola of EGG BANK PLC, as he is our representative in London, contact him immediately for your Cheque/ International Bank Draft of USD$ 250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose ok? so he will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice.
 
This meeting was first held on the 8th of April 2003. You can view this page for your perusal: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
 
Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your correct mailing address where you want him to send the Draft to you.
 
Contact  Mr.Greg Saviola immediately for your Cheque:
 
Person to Contact Mr.Greg Saviola
Phone +447-045-706-932
 
Goodluck and kind regards,
 
 
Making the world a better place
 
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).
http://www.un.org/sg/

Anti-fraud resources: