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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: "Consultant Firm" <consultantfirm01@msn.com>
Reply-To: inzaghilawfirm@excite.com
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 07:53:16 +0000
Subject: REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED

FROM:MR. XIAO JUN(PRESIDENT)
XIAO JUN GRAND IMPORT AND EXPORT GOODS COMPANY
23RD FL, 363 JAVA RD, NORTH POINT
HONG KONG
TEL/FAX +852-301-61608

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM MR. XIAO JUN, WE ARE A GROUP OF BUSINESS MEN WHO DEAL ON RAW
MATERIALS
AND EXPORT INTO AMERICA,CANADA,EUROPE AND ASIA. WE ARE SEARCHING FOR
REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAN HELP US ESTABLISH A MEDIUM OF GETTING TO OUR
COSTOMERS IN YOUR COUNTRY, AS WELL AS MAKING PAYMENTS THROUGH YOU TO
US.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TRANSACTING BUSINESS WITH US WE WILL BE VERY
GLAD. CONTACT OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICER IN UNITED KINGDOM. MR VINCE MCEDWARDS
THROUGH E-MAIL ( vincemcedwards899@yahoo.co.uk ) FOR MORE INFORMATION.
SUBJECT TO YOUR SATISFACTION YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO
NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF WHICH WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR SERVICES AS OUR
REPRESENTATIVE.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED FORWARD TO US YOUR PHONE NUMBER/FAX AND
YOUR FULL CONTACT ADDRESS.
THANKS
XIAO JUN, PRESIDENT
XIAO JUN GRAND IMPORT AND EXPORT GOODS COMPANY
GOODS FOR IMPORT / EXPORT & FREIGHT FWDG. SVCS


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