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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: "Mrs. Carman Lapointe Young." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <belavaderver@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2023 14:14:43 -0800
Subject: Mrs. Carman Lapointe Young.Former: Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-General

Mrs. Carman Lapointe Young.
Former: Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-General
For Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
 
Good day,
 
I am Mrs.Carman Lapointe-Young, Former: Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria Last week from the United Nations Headquarters , after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies, sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with one Mr. Christopher Towe from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account.
 
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria, so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your bank account within the next 72 hours. I have been holding series of meetings which makes it difficult for me to answer any telephone calls, but you can call my assistant Mr. Michael Peterson who came to Nigeria with me.
 
Please reconfirm your contact information below for verifications:
 
(1) Your Full Name.
(2) Your Valid Direct Tel/ Mobile/Fax Number.
(3) Current Resident Address.
(4) Your Occupation:
(5) Driving license or your passport copy or your working id card:
 
Thanks for your understanding;
 
Mrs. Carman Lapointe Young.
Former: Head of United Nations Under-Secretary-General
For Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

Anti-fraud resources: