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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: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrscarmanlap@administrativos.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 00:21:36 -0700
Subject: Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting And Investigations Division

United Nations Office Of International Oversight Services (OIOS)
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting And Investigations Division
From: Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head Of United Nations Under-Secretary-
General For Internal Oversight Services
Direct Phone: (+234)708-109-2060
Attention: Beneficiary
 
As you may know, my name is Ms. Carman L. Lapointe. I am the Head Of United Nations Under-Secretary- General For Internal Oversight Services.
 
This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from Canada, after series of complaint from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the high volume of fraudulent activities going on in these two nations. For more information about me kindly click on the below link or copy and paste on your web browser.
http://www.un.org/Depts/oios/pages/usg.html
Right now, as directed by UN secretary General Mr Ban Ki-Moon, we are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) agencies and we have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect your overdue payment worth $10.5M only into your account without any further delay as approved and instructed by CANADIAN government and UNITED NATIONS. But the only fee you will pay to receive your fund is the Notarization fee. Upon your request, I will tell you the amount and also send you the payment information you will use in sending the Notarization fee.
 
Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian Government Officials are interested in your fund to divert it into their personal accounts.
 
Note that I have a very limited time to stay here in Nigeria, so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I will advice you on what to do so that you will receive your long awaiting payment. Kindly get back to me immediately with your direct phone number for oral conversation.
 
You can reach me at (+234)708-109-2060 for more clearification.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head Of United Nations Under-Secretary-
General For Internal Oversight Services
Direct Phone: (+234)708-109-2060

Anti-fraud resources: