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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: "INFO@FBI.ORG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_enquiry@163.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2018 19:53:22 -0800
Subject: Official

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Building in Washington, D.C.,
United States of America
 
 
Attention "Beneficiary"
 
 
Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This meeting ended 3 days ago. It is obvious that you have not received your fund, which is to the tune of $5,500,000.00 US Dollar [Five Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollar] due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.
 
 
The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the current president of Nigeria, his Excellency Muhammadu Buhari to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have received their Contract Sum, Lottery/Gambling, Inheritance and the likes. Now how would you like to receive your payment? Because we have two methods of payment which is by Cheque or by ATM card?
 
 
ATM Card: We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will use to withdraw up to $3,000 per day from any ATM machine that has the Master Card Logo on it and the card have to be renewed in 3 years time which is 2021. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your local bank account. The ATM card comes with a handbook or manual to enlighten you about how to use it, even if you do not have a bank account.
 
 
Cheque: To be deposited in your bank for it to be cleared within three working days.
 
 
Your payment will be sent to you via any of your preferred option and delivered to you by FedEx Post Services. You are only required to pay $680 U.S Dollar, for the security keeping fee and the express delivery of your Cheque or ATM Smart Card.
 
 
Take note that anyone asking you for some kind of money above the usual fee is definitely a fraudster and you will have to stop communication with every other person if you have been in contact with any. Also remember that all you will ever have to pay is $680 U.S Dollar, and we guarantee the receipt of your fund to be successfully delivered to you within the next 48 hours after the receipt of payment has been confirmed.
 
 
To EXPEDITE the release of your fund valued at $5,500,000.00 US Dollar [Five Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollar], you are advised to contact our Debt Reconciliation Officer in West Africa [Nigeria], using the information below.
 
 
Charlie Alfie
Email: info_enquiry@163.com
[D.R.O]
 
 
You are advised to contact him with the information as stated below:
 
 
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Home/Cell Phone:
Preferred Payment Method (ATM/Cashier Cheque)?
 
 
Once your payment for the delivery is paid and confirmed, your parcel will take approximately 48 hours to be delivered to your designated address.
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mrs. Cassandra Chandler
[Department of Justice]
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535.

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