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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: "Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abancole02@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:06:54 -0700
Subject: HELLO URGENT



Greetings

I am Mr. Aban cole, although we have not meet, but I decide to contact and cooperate with you because you have the same last name with my late expatriate customer who left some funds in our bank. Please confirm your readiness to accept these funds by sending me an email, include your private phone number for easier communication of procedures.

I thank you and looking forward for your earliest response.
Mr. Aban cole

Anti-fraud resources: