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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 Young Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <leey84073@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 15:41:26 +0100
Subject: ATTN: RE-CHANGE OF ACCOUNT

ATTN: RE-CHANGE OF ACCOUNT,
 
THIS IS IN REGARD TO OUTSTANDING PAYMENT, I AM MR YOUNG LEE; THE NEWLY  APPOINTED DIRECTOR UNITED NATIONS; LEGAL AFFAIRS, SECURITY AND  INVESTIGATION,  THE SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON AND HIS DECISION MAKING  BODY, HAS DIRECTED ME TO INVESTIGATE YOUR FUND AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE  APPROVE ALL OUTSTANDING  DEBTS OWNED TO FOREIGN BENEFICIARIES BY THE  GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/BRITISH IN  THIS SECOND QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR  2015.
 
THIS DECISION WAS TAKEN BASED ON THE ANOMALIES AND INABILITY OF THE BANKS  IN  NIGERIA/LONDON TO RELEASE YOUR FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT; WHEREBY IT  WAS  DISCOVERED THAT SOME DIRECTORS IN THESE BANKS WERE DIVERTING FOREIGN BENEFICIARIES PAYMENT TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THEIR CHOICE OVERSEAS. IN VIEW  OF  THIS, DURING OUR INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT; AN ACCOUNT WAS  SUBMITTED TO  DIVERT YOUR FUND TO A GERMANY ACCOUNT. BELOW IS THE ACCOUNT  SUBMITTED AND I WANT YOU TO CONFIRM IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT  BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT EFFECTING PAYMENT TO THE ACCOUNT STATED BELLOW TODAY.
 
BENEFICIARY: CERSTIN WENGER SHENOUDA.
 
BANK: FRANKFURTER BANKA/C NO.: 367840545SWIFT CODE: 50050201
 
FINALLY, BE INFORMED THAT A PAYMENT INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN ISSUED AND  FORWARDED  TO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORY FUND IN  FAVOR FOR  IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND TO THE ACCOUNT ABOVE WITHOUT ANY  FURTHER PREJUDICE. BUT THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN APPROVE THE FUND TO YOUR  ACCOUNT WITHOUT  YOU CONFIRMING IF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR ACCOUNT FOR YOUR  FUND TO BE TRANSFER  TO THE BENEFICIARY: CERSTIN WENGER SHENOUDA BANK  ACCOUNT IN GERMANY.
 
CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE GIVING  INSTRUCTION TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO THE ABOVE ACCOUNT TODAY. ON BEHALF OF  THE  ENTIRE MANAGEMENT OF UNITED NATIONS, WE ARE CONGRATULATING YOU IN  ADVANCE AND IF YOU FAIL TO CONTACT THIS OFFICE ON OR BEFORE 78 HRS FROM NOW  THEN WE WILL  NOW WIRE THE FUND TO THE GERMAN ACCOUNT.THANKS FOR YOUR  CO-OPERATION.
 
WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
 
YOURS FAITHFULLY
MR YOUNG LEE
UN OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION
 

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