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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. Steve Thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emmaoffice20171@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2017 23:29:44 +0100
Subject: YOUR ARGENT RESPONSE,,,

I am Dr. Steve Thompson, the Executive Director, Operations and
Information Technology, of U.B.A Bank Nigeria Plc,  a well-known bank in Nigeria.
One of our accounts with a holding balance of $35.7 Million USD (United
State Dollars) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past
six years.
 
From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account,a
foreigner died in August 2000 in a auto accident and since then nobody
has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has
no family members who are aware of the existence the
account nor the funds.
 
Also Information from the National Immigration stated that he was also
single on entry into Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 
I have secretly discussed this matter with some of the bank officials
and we agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus
propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of the
deceased, for the funds to be released to you after due processes have
been followed.
 
This transaction is totally risk and trouble free as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drugs, money laundering, terrorism
or any other illegal act.
 
The sharing of the fund between us, is as follows; 50% of the total
sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this
transaction. 50% for me and my colleague's.
 
As soon as i receive an acknowledge of the receipt of this message in
Acceptance, i will immediately start up with the processing of the document of claims.
 
 
Best Regards.
Dr. Steve Thompson
Executive Director
Document of Claims
Operations/Information Technology
U.B.A Bank Nigeria Plc

Anti-fraud resources: