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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: "Mr Anthony Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anthony_w@excite.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:37:08 +0100
Subject: Dear Prospective Partner


Dear Prospective Partner

I am Anthony Watson Non-Executive Director and Member of Audit Committee
Lloyds TSB Bank plc. I wish to present you to my bank as the beneficiary
to the fund deposited by my deceased customer.

Please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7785193.stm for more
details.

I can present you to my bank as the beneficiary to this fund. The legal
Affidavits that will testify that you are the beneficiary will be secured
by me in your acceptance to co-operate with me and facilitate this deal.

Everything will be done legally to ensure the rights to the funds are
transferred to you. Your role will be to:

[1]. Act as the original beneficiary of the funds.
[2]. Receive the funds into a business/private bank account.
[3]. Value of funds: ?12,500,000.00 Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand
Great Britain Pounds Sterling.

If you agree to partner with me, I will compensate you with 40% of the
total sum. Should you prefer I re-contact you with more express facts, you
can send me your:

[1] Official Full Names:
[2] Company or Personal profile:
[3] Daytime Telephone No:

Yours faithfully,
Mr Anthony Watson
Private Email:anthony_w@excite.co.uk or anthonywtsn6@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: