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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: "Mohammed Abacha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abch1169@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 10:36:58 -0700
Subject: I will appreciate your response

FROM: MOHAMMED;

In my effort to safe keep our family fund, I wish to inform
you that all necessary modalities have been concluded and
the funds have left to Europe last week by Express Cargo
Flight (Diplomatic Delivery Agency). Note carefully that
the content of the crates is money "US $ 14 million cash"
but I did not disclose it to the Courier Services as money,
rather I informed them that the crates contains Vital
"DOCUMENTS AND EXPENSIVE AFRICA ART WORK" belonging to
a family friend and also business partner (that's you).
Please get back to me immediately with your contact
address, full name and phone number through my email
address so that I can send you the shipment document
and full contact information of the company for you to
contact them and know when the consignment will be
delivered to you. Please note that you will get a
negotiable percentage of the fund and the deposit papers
are ready and will be forwarded in due course.Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,
Mohammed Abacha

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