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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: "OFFICIAL OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <111stevemark@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 14:57:31 -0400
Subject: Attention Beneficiary..

Hello,
 
 
 
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract file Presently on my desk, and I found out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations giving to you in respect to your contract payment. Secondly, you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-Officials in the bank as this is an Illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment After the Board of directors' meeting held in Abuja, we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem. We have arranged your payment through our ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTRE in Europe, America, Africa and Asia Pacific; this is part of an instruction/mandate passed by the Senate in respect to overseas contract payment and debt re-scheduling.
 
 
 
 
We will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money via ATM MACHINE in any part of the world, and the maximum daily limit is Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000.00) valued sum at Five Million United States Dollars {$5,000,000.00}.
 
 
 
 
If you desire to receive your fund this way, Kindly re-confirm your:
(1) Your Full Name
(2) Full residential address.
(3) Phone and Fax Number
 
 
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
BEST REGARDS,
Steve Mark.

Anti-fraud resources: