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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Louis Bethany" <loubethany@o2.pl> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:24:56 +0100
Subject: Proposition(Confidential)

Good day,


May I crave your indulgence to solicit your
cooperation for investment partnership in your
country. I am in charge of excess Proceed arising from
over-invoiced contract payment in one African Country.
This substantial amount is already with a security
firm in Europe.
Should this proposal interest you kindly revert back
to me through this confidential e-mail for futher details.


Yours truly,
Louis Bethany.



Anti-fraud resources: