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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: "Garland Smith" <garlandsmith@garlandsmith.com>
Reply-To: smithgar@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 11:19:39 +0000
Subject: It Will Interest You To Assist

Attn: Sir,

I wish to introduce you to a business deal which would be beneficial to both
of us and which has to be kept confidential for the purpose thereof.

My name is Barrister Garland Smith a Lawyer based in England. I wish to seek
your consent to present you as next of kin to my late client( Mrs. Shamsiah
Ismail) who died early last year leaving behind Twenty Five Million Five
Hundred and Thirty Thousand British Pounds (GBP25,530,000.00) and no next of
kin to inherit the money. With your assistance and my professional advise we
can get access to the money. I would like to invest my share of the money in
your country.

I look forward to your positive response at your earliest convinience and if
possible send along your telephone number, your correct address and Name so
I can call to give you further information.

If you are interested please reply through this Email
I.D.:smithgar@hotmail.com

Regards
Barrister Garland Smith.


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