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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: "publicrelation officer" <public_relationsofficer@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:38:03 +0000
Subject: Memorial Grant Beneficiary

ATTN: Grant Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your information that your email has been randomly
selected and approved as a charity grant beneficiary of THE DIANA MEMORIAL
FOUNDATION.You are awarded a grant sum of £2,598,000.00 (Two Million Five
Hundred And Ninety Eight Thousand Great Britain Pounds) and for further
instructions on how you are to put claim to your grant, you are to FORWARD a
copy of this notice to our International Grants Officer as well as give him
a call via contact details below:

James McArthur,
INTERNATIONAL GRANTS OFFICER,
GRANT AWARD DEPARTMENT,
THE DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION BUILDING,
214 GREAT QUEEN STREET,
LONDON, WC2B 5DF
UNITED KINGDOM.
Tel: +44 8717340878
Fax: +44 8712475072
Email: james_mcarthurdianamemorialfund2@yahoo.co.uk
CC:jamesmcarthur@cashette.com
Congratulations once again from all staff of THE DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
and it is our hope that you will appreciate our gesture and judiciously
spend your grant.

Sincerely,
Miss Helen Jones,
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
GRANT AWARD DEPARTMENT,
THE DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION BUILDING,
214 GREAT QUEEN STREET,
LONDON, WC2B 5DF
UNITED KINGDOM.


Anti-fraud resources: