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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: "Federal Ministry of Finance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <uopdateoffice@yahoo.dk>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 15:10:11 -0600
Subject: ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?

Federal Ministry of Finance
Office of the Legal Director
Asokoro, Abuja - Nigeria.
Direct line: +2349051264123.
URGENT:PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL:
                                                                 January 31, 2015: 07:28 PM.
Our Ref:SFJ-VOL.1/TD/FM/NG.      Your Ref: CP/IHERIT/FMF/PRES/AP/14.
 
Attention:
 
 
Be advised, that the Presidency has re-iterated the cancellation process of all unclaimed funds. Endeavor, to do the needful, send your validated banking details today and comply with the Presidential clearance fee advice for the release of your funds before their deadline, Feel free to call me on my phone number above for more briefing and clarification.
 
Best regards,
 
Stanley Lawson Esq.
Accredited Legal Director,
Federal Ministry of Finance,Nigeria.
 
------------------------------ --------------
Legality, Transparency and Accountability, the Bedrock of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
 

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