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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: "Rev. Fr Mark Phillips" <father_marrk@katamaill.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: father_mark@katamail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 04:27:33 +0100
Subject: Your payment has been released.

UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
WORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE
Office of The Director Special duties.
Dakar, Senegal
Tel: +221 418 3317
Fax: +221 418 4418
Email: father_mark@katamail.com

Special duties reference

**UNO/WBF LM-05-371**
**ORDERING CONTRACTOR:
UNO/WBF – SG
DIPLOMATIC BOX 55KG

To the Beneficiary,

The World Bank Group, Fact Finding & Special Duties office In conjunction with the United Nations Organization, has received part of your pending payment with reference number (LM-05-371) amounting to US$ 10Million (Ten Million United State Dollars) out of your contractual/inheritance funds from our ordering contractor Bank quoting reference to UNO/WBF LM-05-371, the said payment is been arranged in a Security-proof box weighing 75kg padded with synthetic nylon. According to information gathered from the bank’s security computer we were notified that you have waited for so long to receive this payment without success, we also confirmed that you have not met all statutory requirements in respect of your pending payment. You are therefore advised to contact our Payment Clearance Department to obtain necessary information to the Security courier service company that is specialized in sending diplomatic materials and information from one country to anot!
her, which also has diplomatic immunity to carry consignment (Box) such as this.

This office has met with this Security courier service and concluded shipping arrangement with them,therefore shipment will commence as soon as we have your go ahead order,the diplomat who will be bringing in this Consignment(Box) to you is an expert and has been in this line of work for many years now so you have noting to worry about. After all arrangements we have concluded that you must donate Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD500,000.00) to a charity organization we designate to you as soon as you receive your money. To this effect, in your response you should send to us a promissory note promissing to donate the stated amount and also with your address where you will like the Box to be delivered.

Please maintain topmost secrecy as it may cause a lot of problems if found out that we are using this media to help you. Therefore you are advised not to inform anyone about this until you received your money.The above requirement qualifies you for final remittance process of the received sum.

Please confirm message granted with "GO AHEAD ORDER" on mail: father_mark@katamail.com

Congratulations.

Yours Faithfully
Rev. Fr Mark Phillips
Director, Special Duties UNO/WBF.


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