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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: "HEIDI MENDOZA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <MRS.HEIDIMENDOZA@usa.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2017 14:36:40 -0700
Subject: 5/04/2017


UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting And Investigation Division.

From: MS. HEIDI MENDOZA

To: DEAR; SIR.

SETTLEMENT OF ESCROW ACCOUNTS/SCAM VICTIMS.


I personally decided to write you after waiting for your contact with this office, on resumption of our new SECRETARY GENERAL(MR. ANTONIO GUTERRES), FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL. We released circular to all concerned clients of the claims of their funds, which most clients are happy now, celebrating there victory and success as they have received their funds without any mix-up or delay. On the other hand, most clients are still afraid, which I felt that this might be your reason of not contacting this office due to you ugly past experience, so after viewing your file and data, I decided fo contact you to give you this great news as success is already on your door because this transaction is duly under the hands of INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, which includes WE, THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, (F.B.I), INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (IMF), PARIS CLUB, SCOTLAND YARD AND OTHERS, so you have nothing to panic about.

Most importantly, my reason of contacting you now is that we discovered that you have of recent been dealing with another set of fraudsters, according to our investigation learnt that you have lost some amount of money to some AFRICAN'S in pursue of your funds, so for this, I decided to immediately contact you to help you claim your funds with the most easiest means and to help you stop all this tribulations you are facing.

Sir, your funds has been designated to be paid in TWO MOST RELIABLE VARIOUS MEANS:-

(1) ATM CARD: Your funds has been loaded in a ATM CARD, which as soon as we receive your response and your readiness, we will attach to you your ATM CARD for your perusal, which the paying bank is ABN AMRO BANK, ARMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, except you are not interest in receiving your funds via ATM CARD, and want to receive it via DIPLOMATIC MEANS, then I will use my position to include your name. To enable us dispatch your ATM CARD to your doorstep, it will cost you only THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS (US$320) which included the INSURANCE FEES, STAMP DUTY AND DHL FEES. The ATM CARD must be insured with a reputable International Insurance company because of it's worth and importance.

(2) DIPLOMATIC MEANS: This is whereby you funds will be packaged as a DIPLOMATIC ITEMS to EUROPE as some of our officials (DIPLOMATS) will be travelling by next week to CANADA, PHILIPPINES, HOLLAND and GERMANY for disbursement of funds, therefore, if you are willing to claim your funds through this way, that means you shall be meeting FACE TO FACE with our DIPLOMATS upon there arrival in any any country of your choice for face to face claims of your funds. You are only expected to travel with the HANDLING CHARGES which should be between THREE THOUSAND - FOUR THOUSAND EUROS depending on the weight of the package. THOUGH, NOTE THAT THIS HANDLING CHARGES MUST BE PAID BY HAND AND NOT THROUGH ANY TRANSFER MEANS. YOU ARE TO MEET WITH THE DIPLOMATS AND GIVE HIM THE HANDLING CHARGES BY HAND AND IMMEDIATELY HAVE YOUR FUNDS ON THE SPOT.

Sir, with all transparency, sincerity and honesty, exactly as I told you above, this is how things MUST go, so all we required from you is to let me know which you most preferred to receive your funds and VICTORY you have. Though, as you must know, you are suppose to first update your file with some amount because it has been dormant, but I will help you with that, so indicate to me which best means you prefer to claim your funds and be very ready to follow as instructed. On responding to us, you are advised to re-confirm the below information to enable us confirm your genuineness and expedite action immediately, upon receiving your urgent response, with your full correct details, I will then attach your ABN AMRO ATM CARD for your perusal and giving you further directives on how to send the DISPATCH FEES to our office so that the DISPATCH can take place immediately and receiving it within 48 hours. Please re-confirm the below details:-

(1) YOUR FULL NAME AND CORRECT CONTACT ADDRESS
(2) YOUR MOBILE/HOME TELEPHONE NUMBERS
(3) YOUR SCANNED COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

Upon receipt of your mail and the above information, we will give you further directives.

Waiting for your urgent response and conclusion.


Yours faithfully,

MRS. HEIDI MENDOZA,
U. N UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL FOR INTERNAL OVERSIGHT OFFICE.
PHONE: +2347032543194

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