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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: "Mr. Robert Barris" <robertbarris@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 13:30:30 +0000
Subject: This is Fraustrating


VICTIMNAME,
From which western union office location did you send the money?.There
is no match fund detected with the whole sum you have sent.Please go to the
Western Union office and tell them to release these funds this morning okay.

Robert


>From: VICTIMNAME <VICTIMEMAILADDRESS>
>To: BARRISTER PRESTO DADA <legallawofficefirm@yahoo.com>
>CC: robertbarris@msn.com
>Subject: Re: Money Returned pls resend via Western Union today
>Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:32:16 +0900
>
>Dear Mr Dada,
>Hello Mr Barris,
>
>I'm sorry it has taken so long.
>
>I have finally managed to get the first money transfer cancelled. I
>have rerouted the returned cash funds via Western Union today, as
>requested. I hope this will enable Jerry to finally travel here and am
>looking forward to welcoming him to Seattle.
>
>Here are the details of the WESTERN UNION wire transfer:
>
>Sender: VICTIMNAME, Seattle
>Amount: $4,160.00
>MTCN: 7031964039
>Test question: Student's name?
>Test answer: Jerry
>
>Again, my apologies for the delay which was because this was
>unfamiliar territory for a music teacher.
>
>Happy holidays!
>
>VICTIMNAME
>
>
>On 12/13/05, BARRISTER PRESTO DADA <legallawofficefirm@yahoo.com> wrote:

Anti-fraud resources: