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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: "Ms.Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mscarman02@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:49:43 +0200
Subject: From: Ms.Carman L. Lapointe.

From: Ms.Carman L. Lapointe. Dear: Beneficiary: This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from Canada, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam/fraud activities going on in these two nations. directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to Ensure That Your Approved Fund Legal Papers Is Secured and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation Approved Fund Valid {Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars}$10.5M direct to your Account or we load it into ATM Card and deliver it to you. Approved by both the British government and the UN into your account without any delay. Reconfirm your full names, telephone number for immediate payment of the above stated amount. Sincerely Yours Ms.Carman L. Lapointe

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