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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 States Federal Reserve" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <federalreserve12@globomail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 07:54:08 +0100
Subject: 2012 FRAUD VICTIMS REF/PAYMENTS CODE:MAY/00546

FOREIGN TRANSFER DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE
2012 FRAUD VICTIMS REF/PAYMENTS CODE:MAY/00546
Date: 05/08/12
 
Attention-Beneficiary,
 
It has come to our notice that you have been defrauded of your hard earned money by fraudsters from Africa and the rest of the world.During the last Anti-Fraud meeting held in Washington DC USA,it was alarmed so much by the rest of the world on the loss of fund by various foreigners to scam artists operating all over the world today.
 
After the meeting, we have decided to redeem the good image of African Countries,Therefore,an immediate payment of $5Million USD (Five Million United States Dollars) has been ordered for each of the affected victims.This is in accordance to our recommendations.This payments will be made by UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE as the authorized and corresponding paying bank under the funding assistance of the World Bank.
 
As at date some beneficiaries have been paid most of them are from United States.Your information were among those mentioned by some of the syndicate that was apprehended in Lagos Nigeria,Accra Ghana and London as one of those that have lost alot of money to their operations.
 
You are hereby adviced and warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to anybody for any reason whatsoever as the U.S secret service and the F.B.I is working day and night to track this criminals down.This has to be kept confidential until these criminals are all apprehended.
 
You can receive your reimbursement via any of these options you choose (CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRE TRANSFER).In this regards,
This will enable the immediate process on the release of your compensation payment to you.Your urgent response is awaited.
 
Janet Yellen
Vice Chairman,
United States Federal Reserve
 

Anti-fraud resources: