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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: "Mrs Helen Hanson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjoysmith@joysmithassociates.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 11:22:48 -0400
Subject: SCAM VICTIM

Dear Friend,

I am Mrs. Helen Hanson, I am a US citizen ,62 years Old. I reside here in New York. My residential address is as 267 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 United States, I am one of those that took part in the Compensation in Nigeria many years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid over $43,000 while in the United States of America, trying to get my payment all to no avail.

So I decided to travel down to Nigeria with all my compensation documents, and I was directed to meet Mrs. Joy Smith, who is the member of COMPENSATION AWARD COMMITTEE with the UNITED NATIONS, and I contacted her and she explained everything to me. He said whoever is contacting us through emails are fake.

She took me to the paying bank for the claim of my Compensation payment amount of $1,500,000.00 Moreover, Mrs. Joy Smith, showed me the full list of EMAIL ADDRESS of those that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your EMAIL ADDRESS as one of the beneficiaries, that is why I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people, they are not with your fund, they are only making money out of you. I will advise you to contact Mrs. Joy Smith.

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION
Name: Mrs. Joy Smith
Email: barristerjoysmith@joysmithassociates.com
+234 9020011495


you are hereby advised to contact Mrs. Joy Smith with the following information's below

1. Your Names in full ????????????????
2. Your Occupation ??????????????
3. Your Residential Address ???????????????
4. Your Place and date of birth ???????????????
5. Your Telephone and fax Number ???????????

You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing. The only money I paid after I met Mrs. Joy Smith was just $520 for the paper work which you have to pay her once you contact her and she agree to work for you, take note of that. Once again stop contacting those people, I will advise you to contact Mrs. Joy Smith so that he can help you to transfer your Fund into your account, instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you around asking for different kind of money to complete your transaction.

Thank You.

Mrs. Helen Hanson

Anti-fraud resources: