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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: "Dr Marcus Ben" <info@usa.org>>
Reply-To: filefff230@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:41:24 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT SCHEDULE/CBN/FEDRESERVE SSCE 0809XX1 FOREIGN PAYMENT APPROVAL.

Attn.Beneficiary,


PAYMENT SCHEDULE/CBN/FEDRESERVE SSCE 0809XX1 FOREIGN PAYMENT APPROVAL.

With reference to the approval of your inheritance issued to us and in pursuant to the foreign payment act,laws/treaties(payment intact to the beneficiary) we have been instructed to release your total sum of [US$16.4m] by a certified Cheque to you.There is no instruction to change the ownership of the fund to your Brother DIANA Gino.There is no time we were instructed to transfer your money to the account of Mrs Johnson (your sister)who you just authorize to pay your fees and collect your money on your behalf without any formal information to us.The bank especially this Commercial bank that deals with foreign inheritance fund have rules of payment.

We cannot release the money to her.Tell her that I said It is completely illegal to transfer the ownership of your fund to your sister Diana Johnson ,change your address under 24hrs without telling us that you don't have the fee is not a guarantee for you to instruct transfer of the fund to your sister. We have no problem and will release the money to her but we need your letter of agreement made with her or power of attorney by which you authorized her as your next of kin to change your name,pay the fee and receive your funds for you in her own name.

Please,call me immediately or email me on [ ) with the accredited above to enable us complete and effect the payment to her designated name/address nominated to us Thanks but NO thanks to send your sister(as your Representative) without our information.We cannot release the money to her unless we hear from you.

I remain,

Yours faithfully,
Dr Marcus Ben

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