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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: Janet Alexander <alexjanet38k@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <alexjanet206@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:26:33 +0100
Subject: DEAR SIR!



DEAR SIR,
MY NAME IS JANET,I AM AN AFRICA LADY.I AM 27 YEARS OF AGE, SINGLE. MY FATHER PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO.I NEED A TRUST WORTHY PERSON TO HELP ME SECURE MY FATHER SAVINGS INTO HIS ACCOUNT SO THAT I CAN TRAVEL OVER TO MEET WITH HIM SO AS TO KNOW MY NEXT STEP.
I AM HAVING SERIOUS DIFICULTY STAYING HERE IN AFRICA DUE TO INSECURITY.I HAVE STAYED IN OREGON USA ALL MY LIFE UNTIL TRAGEDY TRUCK MY FAMILY LAST MONTH,MY FATHER LOST NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) JOB.
AS A RESULT OF THE SHOCK,MY FATHER GOT A HEART-ATTACK AND DIED. HE COULD NOT SURVIVE THE INCIDENT.
FURTHERMORE,MY UNCLE IS BATTLING WITH ME FOR THE SAVINGS,THIS IS WHY I RESOLVED TO TRANSFER THE MONEY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO A SAFER COUNTRY.
I WILL BE GLAD INDEED IF YOU CAN BE OF UNRESERVED ASSISTANCE FOR MY FAMILY.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.
REGARDS,
JANET
_________________________________________________________________
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