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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: "DR. AKINWUMI ADESINA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesochoba@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:36:37 -0800
Subject: RE: TO YOUR ATTENTION!

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP
From the Desk of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
WEBSITE: WWW.AFDB.ORG
 
Dear beneficiary, Complements of the season to you!
I am Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, African Development Bank Group. This is to bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money transaction originated from any part of Asia, Mid-Eastern, USA and Europe countries as contract payment, Scam Victims, Fund Inheritance or Lottery Winnings due to unauthorized/incapability of the original financial Institutions/security companies and Courier Companies in releasing such huge sum of money because of Fraud, terrorism and money Laundry activities going on worldwide.
The World Bank Group has mandated the African Development Bank (ADB) via my Office to release funds to beneficiaries through either ATM Card means of payment (OR) Telegraphic Wire Transfer Hence Your E-mail/Name appear as one of the fund beneficiaries whom their fund was successfully cleared/approved for payment in this batch.
Your approved payment will be released to you through any of the above alternatives to avoid you paying excess charge.
You are therefore advised to re-confirm your choice of payment, your direct telephone number, your full names and address to us for immediate process and release of this money, Most importantly be aware that (Five Million United States Dollars Only (US$5, 000, 000.00) was approved to be released to you in this batch.
Be also informed that all the documents regarding this approval and authorization has been issued for a legal back-up for this payment should there be any question emanating from your government authority regarding the huge sum.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
www.afdb.org

Anti-fraud resources: