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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: "hajia mariam" <hmariam005@msn.com>
Reply-To: hmariam001@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 00:52:32 +0000
Subject: re:hello

From Hajia Mariam
e-mail:hmariam001@hotmail.com

Dear Beloved,
Due to the sudden death of my husband General Abacha the former head of
state of Nigeria in June 1998, I have been thrown into a state of
hopelessness by the present administration.I have lost confidence with
anybody within my country.I got your contacts through personal research,and
had to reach you through this medium. I will give you more details when you
reply. Due to security network placed on my daily affairs I cant visit the
embassy so that is why I have contacted you. My husband deposited $25.5
million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is witheld for now
till we communicate. I will be happy if you can receive this funds for safe
keeping and I assure you a very good percent of this fund I will instruct my
son to contact you so please feel free to comunicate with my son. I await
your urgent response,

Hajia Mariam.
NOTE: PLEASE I WOULD WANT YOU TO REPLY ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:
hmariam001@hotmail.com
AND ALSO SEND ME YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT MY SON MUSTAPHA CAN
CALL AND DISCUSS WITH YOU VERBALLY REGARDING THIS TRANSACTION SO THAT YOU
CAN ASK ANY QUESTION THAT YOU FEEL LIKE ASKING REGARDING THIS TRANSACTION.


Anti-fraud resources: