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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: Alejandro Mayorkas <dhs009zip@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefile11005@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:23:22 +0100
Subject: Department of Homeland Security

Dear Beneficiary,

I'm Alejandro Mayorkas, serving as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
We received a report that you have an unclaimed fund in the tone of
US$7,500,000.00 (Seven Million, five hundred thousand United State
Dollar) that was held by the Benin financial authorities. The
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has partnered with the IMF to
determine the quickest and most convenient way to receive your
payment. We have determined that the total fund will be released to
you by uploading the total approved payment into a (Master/ Visa)
Platinum Card that can be accessible at any ATM & Inter-Switch cash
machine anywhere in the world. With this card, a maximum withdrawal
value of US$5000.00 is permitted on withdrawal per day with a minimum
of US$100 per withdrawal.

Therefore, you are expected to to reconfirm your Full Name (as stated
on your government issued photo ID), shipping address and your Direct
Cell Phone number, for immediate delivery of your card. Get back to
me immediately if you are still willing to receive it. I can be
reached at +1 (202) 897-0683. Please call me or leave me a text.

We expect your urgent response to this email
(officefile11005@gmail.com) to enable us to monitor this payment
effectively.

I wait to hear from you.

Alejandro Mayorkas,
Secretary Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Anti-fraud resources: