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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: "OFFICE OF FBI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail@megamail.pt>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:17:40 -0500
Subject: TOP SECRET FBI .

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
601 4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20535
Tel: 206-337-5630
 
 
Attention Beneficiary ,
 
 
This is an official advice from the FBI, foreign remittance/telegraphic dept. (FRTD), it has come to our notice that the RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) has released your part of inheritance/contract payment of usD 10,500,000.00u.s dollars into First Union Corp Bank in united states of America in your name as the beneficiary.  
 
 
The bank in Scotland knowing fully well that they don’t have enough facilities to effect this payment from Europe to your account; they used what we know as secret diplomatic transit payment S.D.T.P to pay this fund via wire telegraphic. They are still waiting for final confirmation to enable them credit the fund into your account. meanwhile secret diplomatic transfer payment system are normally used on funds related to drug/terrorist
and money laundry , why must your funds be transfer in such arrangement , if your transaction is legal,  why can't the bank in Europe via royal bank of Scotland effect direct transfer into your account than secret diplomatic payment transfer system. 
 
 
due to the increased difficulties and unnecessary scrutiny by the American authorities when funds  are transfer through such payment from Europe, Africa and middle east, based on the records we had in the past always identified such method of payment as illicit funds transfer, to avoid problem with the us government as soon as these funds reflect in your
account,  it is our mandatory obligations to ascertain the verification and certification of this funds before the final crediting into your  account.  
 
 
you were advise to contact us immediately you receive this mail, as the funds transfer has been stopped and held in our custody pending when you were able to provide us with a diplomatic immunity seal of transfer certificate (DIST) within 4 days from the country of origin, that authorize the transfer and certified that the funds was originated from Africa and middle east are free from terrorist/drug and money laundry or we confiscate the payment. We will allow the funds to be release into your account immediately you make provision the required document. 
 
YOURS FAITHFULLY, 
 
FBI DIRECTOR
ROBERT S. MUELLER III
 
 
Note: we have asked for the above documents to make available the most
complete and up-to date records possible for the enhancement of public
safety, welfare and security of society while recognizing the importance of
individual privacy rights.. If you fail to provide the documents to us, we
will take proper action against you for not proof the legitimate of the fund
coming to your account.
 

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