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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: "Mark Phil" <mark1_phl@lloydsbankofuk.com>
Reply-To: mark4_phil@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 22:37:04 +0000
Subject: ACCOUNT REVIEW

From: Mr. Mark Phil
Lloyds Bank PLC.
71 Lombard Street,
London, EC3P 3BS.
United Kingdom


Permit me to introduce myself; I am Mr. Mark Phil, an Accounts Clerk
with Lloyds Bank Plc. I came across your email address during a thorough
search for a reliable and trustworthy person who can assist me carry-out a
mutual and benefiting transaction in my bank.
Only recently I discovered that an account belonging to a customer name
Mrs. Fiona Watt. has remained dormant for the past two years, after
intensive investigations, I found out that Mrs. Fiona Watt died in a ghastly
auto accident in June, 2003.
At this point I am contacting you concerning a business acquaintance that
necessitates you to act as a new beneficiary cum next of kin to the said
dormant account as I hope to give you more technical details on how we can
transfer the funds into your nominated offshore/residence account.
Please if you are interested, reach me with your personal details such as
full names, address (home/office), phone and fax numbers to enable me give
you full details of our plans to success.

Sincerely yours,
Mark Phil

N.B. If you are not interested please reply with the subject unsubscribe.


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