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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: "Mrs Tricia Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrstriciabenson10@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:33:36 -0800
Subject: Mrs Tricia Benson?

Attnention!

My name is Mrs Tricia Benson of the International Monetary Fund investigation unit. Attached pictures was received and forewarded to our office here in London UK today 23th OF JANUARY, 2010 requesting that your unclaimed fund be paid to Messers Jacobs Enterprises.

In the said letter of change of beneficiary/ownership, representatives of messers Jacobs enterprises states that you are dead and as such your fund should be paid to him as the next of kin to you.

Because of the elaborate global scam, we decided to contact you for confirmation. If after two working days, no responce is received from you, it will be assumed that you are dead and as such authorisation and approval will be granted on behalf of Messers Jacobs enterprises to claim/receive your fund.

Confirm this pictures and reconfirm your Information to me the followings.

(1) Your full name........................................
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #..........................
3) company's name,position and address...........
4)profession, age and marital status...........................
5) Copy of int'l passport or any scanned identity to prove yourself..........................

and how you want your fund paid to you without further delay if you are still alive. Send your responce to my email address: mrstriciabenson10@gmail.com


Regards
Mrs Tricia Benson

Anti-fraud resources: