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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: "UNITED STATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE DEPT."
<misslindahillkay2@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:54:41 GMT
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD


This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 9253 8401 6542 5004 =
worth (=246.8MILLION USD) has been credited in your favor in bid to =
compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our =
inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2008. Your =
personal identification is ATM-0709. Contact the verification officer =
Mrs.Linda Hill on: (misslindahillkay2=40yahoo.com.hk) with the following =
for proper verification and claim processing:

Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................

NOTE:
-You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means =
of Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or =
International Passport for proper verification and authentication.

Regards
UNITED STATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE DEPT.

Anti-fraud resources: