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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 John Acton." <backup@com.br>
Reply-To: j.acton14704@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:55:47 -0700
Subject: IMF PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.

IMF PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.

I am surprised to receive an application this morning from MR.ROBERT BERNHARDT,which stated that you have authorized him to take care of the payment procedures and ensure that the bank will transfer the funds to another bank account in Switzerland and that you had an auto accident and you can not walk at this moment now.

Please confirm immediately, your relationship with MR.ROBERT BERNHARDT. and also, confirm if the bank account in Switzerland as indicated below is now your new bank account information to receive your outstanding payment funds from our paying bank.

CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038 ZÜRICH,SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT NO:5018 1448 1308
IBAN: CH19 0483 5018 1448 1308 1
SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ80A

Kindly reply today by email with your mailing address and your telephone number where to reach you,in order to confirm this information to avoid wrong transfer of your funds,so that we can be free to proceed with MR ROBERT BERNHARDT. as regards to the online transfer requirement needed to transfer the $17,500,000.00(SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS to the above bank account in Switzerland.

Warm regards,

Mr John Acton.
Director of Foreign Payment Reconciliation Unit(IMF)
Private email: j.acton14704@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: