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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: "Anthony Ani" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office_ofani@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 12:11:34 +0100
Subject: RE: REPLY URGENT

This Mail is to inform you that arrangement had been concluded to remit your total payment sum into your nominated bank account via NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT REVENUE ACCOUNT. ACCOUNT NO: 400-939134 WITH J.P MORGAN CHASE BANK NEW YORK.
 
Please note very carefully, Mr. John West from Ireland and his Nigerian partner Mr Kenneth Daani came to my office with a sworn affidavit to re-route your payment into a new bank account number as stated Below
 
Prudential Bank and Trust Co (Zamora Branch)
Account #: 5068-1117-88549
Swift:PBT2986
Address:Zamora Street,
Panda-can, Manila, Philippines
 
 
However, before this is done, you are hereby requested to confirm to us without delay the followings: If Mr. John West is one of your Director’s as he claimed.
 
If you have instructed him to appoint an attorney /agent on your behalf.If you have authorized us through your agent to issue Cash Call Payment remittance to them on your behalf. Please, also confirm if you have authorized Mr. John West to change your banking particulars as stated with this mail.
 
 
You are required as a matter of urgency to confirm the legitimacy of the above claim and kindly give us reasons why you decided to effect the above Change of Account. We have decided to contact you because the conduct of the two men became suspicious due
 
to the unsatisfactory information they provided concerning this transfer, and as a result, I decided to give them one week appointment ahead to enable me make necessary
 
verification from you.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Anthony Ani
+234-806239-1643
 

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