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

Fraud email example:

From: "GRACE SMITH" <grace.smith.anna@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 06:18:15 -0800
Subject: Re:{Spam?} GOOD DAY

Dear Mullmacher & Adela Burgerde,

I really don't understand you guyz?  are you guyz the same person trying to use different mail box to confuse me? Your respond and mails came to me the same time and the same English are you two trying to plan together to get this money run away with it as my ex-boy friend and my close friend try to do? Please I'm very serious about this deal and I'm not a joker, I got your mail from a list of contact, so if any of you is interested to claim this funds on my behalf please kindly get back to me as soon as possible moreso, the person mus know that he is going to help me financially, so I will be waiting from you two who is interested in helping me.

Best Regards

Grace Smith


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