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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 MARY BETH LEONARD <americanembassycentraldistri@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:47:51 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE C

U.S. Department
Greeting from U.S Embassy,
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2 Walter Carrington Crescent Victoria Island, Nigeria
EMAIL:usaembassy.nig1444@gmail.com
DIRECT PHONE NO: +2348108549538
DIRECT MOBILE NO + 234 810549538

Ref: FCC/10746/VCP3-22

IRREVOCABLE PAYMENT NOTICE:

DEAR SIR,

THIS IS SEQUEL TO MY EARLIER EMAIL TO YOU TODAY.WE ARE SORRY FOR THE
MISTAKE IN THE NAME. HOWEVER,THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE MEETING WE HAD
ON THURSDAY WITH THE DIRECTORS OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE. me WISH TO
INFORM YOU THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF YOUR INHERITANCE FUND APPROVED BY
THE NIGERIA GOVERNMENT FOR RELEASE TO YOU IS ONLY $8.2 MILLION .WE
HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS ISSUE UPON OURSELVES TO SAFEGUARD YOU FROM
THESE CRIMINAL MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE ONLY INTEREST WAS TO EXTORT
MONEY AND FEES FROM YOU.

THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE AGREEMENT I SIGNED WITH THE NIGERIA
GOVERNMENT ON MY ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE AS THE USA AMBASSADOR TO
NIGERIA, RESULTING FROM COMPLAINS WE RECEIVED DAILY ON SCAMS IN
NIGERIA AND IN AFRICA, ASIAN AND EUROPE ETC.

SO YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONTACT MY OFFICE ON THE ABOVE EMAIL AND
PHONE NUMBER, RECONFIRM,YOUR FULL NAME,YOUR MAILING/BILLING
INFORMATION,DIRECT PHONE/FAX NUMBERS THE NAME OF YOUR NEXT OF KIN AND
A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVERS LICENSE
IDENTIFICATION FOR RECORD PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF YOUR
ATM CARD.

HOWEVER,ALWAYS KEEP ME POSTED AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR ATM CREDIT
CARD VALUE OF YOUR FUND.

WE HAVE CALCULATED AND APPROVED THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR ATM CARD TO BE
WITHIN THREE DAYS UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE DETAILS.

REGARDS,

MRS MARY BETH LEONARD
New United States of America Ambassador to (Nigeria)

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