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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: "flex sly" <slyflex4h@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:02:28 +0000
Subject: just to become your friend

Hi sweet friend,
I’m so glad to pen this letter for my first relationship on web. So let me
describe myself to you sweet friend. I’m Sly and I’m one of Ghanaian with 20
years old, with 4 to 5 ft tall and 56 weight. I’m student and I’m also
computer technician and I live at Accra, our Capital city. I like sports,
traveling, tourism, written, reading and visit some pinks places in the
world. I like too, the relationship all over the world especially from USA
CANADA and LONDON. So I wish if I could get friends from those places who
would like me. Any way my sweet friend should know that:" Love is one and
never two". So you would know more about me if you like me and pen to me.
Yours truly,

_________________________________________________________________
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