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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 Ahmed Idris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drahmedidris002@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2018 11:51:11 +0100
Subject: Re: CONFIRM THESE PLEASE

From: Office Of The Accountant General{FGN}
International Foreign Payment Dept,
27, Kofo Abayomi Street Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria. Ref:CIG/100/445
 
Attention Account Holder,
 
  My name is Dr Ahmed Idris,The Accountant General{FGN},in the course of
our General Auditing and Account revision of the 2nd quarter of the
  year 2018,we discovered that the Bank Accounts belonging to some
  Benefactors have been changed on the basis that the owners have died
  some time last year or have given out an authorization note of change
  of data. (DEED OF ASSIGNMENT)
 
  After the investigations, however, it was revealed that there are
  Foreigners who are collaborating with Retired Staffs to make these
  changes illegally without the
  knowledge of the Bonafide Benefactors and one traced to your own
  change is this Mr. Rick Jones who said you are dead, hence they have
  forwarded some documents of funeral service held for you so as to
  divert your fund. They have also forwarded to this bank account below
  as the new account that will receive this money.
 
  Bank Name:Hang Seng
  Bank Address: 83 Des Veoux Road, Central-Hong Kong
  Account Name: Rick Jones
  Account Number: 235-325172-882
  Bank Code: 024
  Swift Code: HASEHKHH
 
  But we wanted to confirm if actually this is true and hence decided to
write to your email address which after 2 days from now and there is
  no response, we will then know that you are dead indeed and go on with
  the transfer. If proved otherwise by you that you did not die, please
  forward to us all the related Benefactors  particulars including your
  Telephone number, contact address.
 
  These details from you will help to assist us reach a conclusion that you
  are not dead.Anything contrary to this claim will help us charge this
  man to court and prosecute him while your fund will be paid to you
  immediately without any further delay.
 
  You have to get back to us on time for us to commence legal
  proceedings against Mr. Rick Jones and his accomplices.
  We do await your positive response
 
  Yours Sincerely,
  Dr Ahmed Idris
  Office Of The Accountant General{FGN}

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