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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: "Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <efcccomplainoffice20100@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2022 08:28:44 -0700
Subject: Re: SCAM ALERT/DID YOU ASK MR JAMES BROWN TO CLAIM YOUR INHERITANCE.?

NIGERIA INVESTIGATION BUREAU 14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI LAGOS NIGERIA. Motto: No Body is Above the LAW FROM THE DESK OF MR. ABDULRASHEED BAWA (CHAIRMAN) FOR: ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC). ATTN: BENEFICIARY BENEFICIARY OF FUNDS VALUED (USD 5.5 MILLION) ONLY RE - URGENT NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT A MAN CALLED MR.ROBERT WHITE FROM USA CAME OUR OFFICE TODAY CLAIMING TO BE FROM YOU, STATING THAT YOU ARE DEAD BUT BEFORE YOUR DEATH YOU MADE HIM YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CLAIM YOUR ATM CARD/FUND VALUED $5,500,000.00 ONLY. NOW HERE COMES THE BIG QUESTION, DID YOU SIGN ANY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT IN FAVOR OF MR. ROBERT WHITE THEREBY MAKING HIM THE CURRENT BENEFICIARY WITH HIS FOLLOWING CONTACT DETAILS: (7121 EDGETON ST; DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48212-1905, USA.). WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENT RELEASE DETAILS TO THE SAID ROBERT WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. YOU ARE TO CONTACT ME BACK IMMEDIATELY THROUGH THIS EMAIL: efcccomplainoffice20100@gmail.com THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION IN THIS REGARDS. BEST REGARDS, MR. ABDULRASHEED BAWA (CHAIRMAN), FOR: ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

Anti-fraud resources: