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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: "Mr.Joseph Leon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrleon2010@mail.mn>
Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 22:17:07 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

Foreign Operations Unit
Processing & Payment Department
File Ref No: CCHS/97531/HSBC-OX1/2011
AMOUNT: US$3,600,000.00 DOLLARS ONLY.
Sir ,
Reference to the letter of nomination forwarded to us by the Debt Recovery Committee regarding your part payment sum of US$3,600,000.00 dollars deposited into our account with the HSBC Bank in London UK, our foreign payment operations have reviewed the allocation for further credit to your new changed nominated account as stated below.
Bank Name: Bank of Australia and New Zealand
Address: Antarctic Branch, Floor 3/287 Collins St,
Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
BSB: 013006
Swift: ANZBAU3M
Account No: 224837-ANTC
Account Name: Brian Constructions
However, your information as provided above have been posted to our operational paying bank, the HSBC Bank in form of transfer instructions for transfer of your allocation into your nominated account. quoting the above file reference number and within 48hrs as no change of information will be effected after transfer of funds.
For any further inquiry please contact the undersigned officer immediately as funds will be retrieved to treasury after ten (10) business days of this notice.
Regards,
 
Mr.Joseph Leon
Head of Customer Service
Foreign Operations Unit
Phone: +44 702 4055571 (8am-6pm London Time)

Anti-fraud resources: