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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: "NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richarddepartment101@indamail.hu>
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2022 17:40:34 +0200
Subject: WIRE TRANSFER??

                              DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                  1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220
 
Attention: Sir/Madam,
 
Greetings from the U.S Dept of the Treasury. World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) including European Parliament and Asia Government, has given us instructions to release your outstanding payment of US$20.5M immediately you get back to me with your full details.
 
Kindly reconfirm your information listed below:
 
1) Your full Name:
2) Your Full Address:
3) Phones, Fax and Mobile No:
4) Profession, Age and Marital Status:
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification:
6) Your bank account details where you want Director of Telex and Wire Department to transfer your approved fund.
 
Meanwhile all legal documents from Department Of Treasury Direct-Account Washington DC will be release to you before your fund will be transfer into your bank account.
 
Thanks for your maximum co-operation.
Richard Douglas
U.S Dept of the Treasury

Anti-fraud resources: