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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: "Credit voor u" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 19:25:27 +0100
Subject: URGENT:CREDIT FOR YOU

Good Day.
This is a confirmation response from the help desk of Credit 4 U. One of Our esteemed clients, Prof Marcelo has ordained you as a beneficiary to a CREDIT 4 U investment and estates according to documents submitted by his attorneys and family before his demise. Hopefully one of our consultants will get across to you as soon as a confirmation email is received from you. Your direct access to CREDIT 4 U for further assistance will be Dr. Bryan kreider. He will put you through in accordance to filling all necessary forms and supply of details we may possibly require as pre-requisites for funds processing. Please kindly endeavor to contact him at any given moment where you may need assistance either in filling required documents or otherwise. For the first protocol needed therein, all contact details, proof of who you are (preferably Copies of your Identification that's states specifically your age as well), occupation, marital status, Income (annually), race (for banking equality
statistics), letter from you to
CREDIT 4 U (Newsletter team).

Anti-fraud resources: