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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:44:30 +0000
Subject: Congratulations !!!

Attn Winner,
This e-mail is to inform you that your e-mail address has won you the
sum of One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Nine Hundred
and Seventy Three Pounds Sterling. (£1,350,973.00 in our UK Lottery
Anniversary Draw. For payment, you are required to contact our
fudiciary agent with the below contact details:

CONTACT PERSON: MR. KEVIN WRIGHT
E-MAIL: unl.ltrdraw@live.com

You are also required to contact her with the below information.
(a) Full Name: .. (b) Contact address: (c) Age: ...(d) occupation:.....

Regards,
Mrs. Jessica Simpson
Online Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources: