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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Foreign Affairs" <foreignaffairsministry@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 11:21:13 +0200
Subject: VERY URGENT


Attn: Mr.VICTIMNAME



With due respect and honor to your mail. Regarding to this transfer I have
your file before me and hope your data's are correct and un-tampered unless
u reconfirms it.



Now, you are requested to refurnish/recomfirm all your details/contract
amount in this regards to recross check with what we have here in our
office to know exactly if you are the real person the fund has to be
transferred into his account.All the relevant documents has to be forwarded
to this my mail box to avoid you being cheated again.As a Christian,i have
to do everything with my virtue power to see that all uncliamed funds are
being paid off.



I am expecting your urgent response to this mail to enable me process for
your fund transfer.Include your telephone and fax numbers as soon as
possible.



Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,

Anti-fraud resources: