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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: "The World Bank Group" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.richardsont@live.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:44:09 -0700
Subject: ALERT FROM THE WORLD BANK CREDITORS...

THE WORLD BANK GROUP,
15TH FLOOR, NEWZERLAND HOUSE HAYMARKET
LONDON SW1Y 4TE, ENGLAND
Our Ref: WBG/PRS/UK-FR/007-2010/IWP
Telephone: +447024060751
 
                   ALERT FROM THE WORLD BANK CREDITORS...PLS READ CAREFULLY.
 
ATTN: Beneficiary,
 
There is an issue with the World Bank group London for your part-payment value at TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATE DOLLARS directed and credited to file SRN/ 9023118308/09, which has now been reverted in couple of hours ago due to the Security Act.
 
In view of several efforts already made by the organization to contact you for the following reasons based on the new information submitted to this office on your behalf.
 
(A) We received FUND CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE from MR. RAINER HESSE to recieve your payment value at Two Million Five hundred Dollars ($2.5Million USD).
 
Please, confirm to our department if you have instructed Mr. Rainer Hesse on your behalf thereby asking that he receive your fund on your behalf.
 
In order to resolve this problem, we need you to re-confirm with this office immediately, as soon as we receive your information, your fund will be affected to you from the treasury of the external reserve into your nominated bank account directly from any of our paying bank.
 
 
We wait your urgent response.
 
Thanks,
 
Dr. Tony Richardson,
Welfare officer
The World Bank Group London
 
                                                ©2010 The World Bank Group, All Rights Reserved.

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