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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Ben <davidwilson.agent23@gmail.com>
Reply-To: smitpaul102@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2021 12:56:12 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY

Congratulations

We have been having a meetings for the past (6) months United Nations
Office have agreed to Compensate you with sum of $1.5 million United
States Dollars and the fund have been arrange through ATM Visa Card
which is the latest instruction from Mr.António Guterres UN Secretary
General

Therefore be advice to contact our representative Mr.Smith Paul for
the shipping of your ATM Visa Card kindly forward your full delivery
details to him:Email: (smitpaul102@gmail.com) +22990411776

1 Full Name: .............
2 Country:...........
3 Delivery:...........
4 Telephone:...........

Thanks Maria Ben
CC: David Malpass World Bank president
CC: António Guterres UN Secretary General

Anti-fraud resources: