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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: jerry maxwell <jj.mmax15@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <jj.maxwell1@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 14:04:05 +0200
Subject: URGENT REPLY



From Dr Jerry MaxwellVilla 6 Riviera 11Cocody-AbidjanCote D'Ivoire
Hello,
I am Dr Jerry Maxwell, the bill and exchange manager in one of the Commercial banks here in COTE D'IVOIRE.
I have a very confidential and urgent finacial notification for you. A floating sum of US$18,500,000.00 EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDREN THOUSAND DOLLARS) belonging to a deceased customer with the name has been noticed unclaimed in our audit archive.

As one of the key officers in the bank, I am obliged to notify you, since you have the same name with the late benaficiary. Most importantly, the fund will be forefitted to the bank treasury as unclaimed bills in accordance with our bank policy( 5 Years) unless urgent arrangement is made to claim it.

I want this money to be paid into your account for us to share in 50/50 propotion, all I need from you is unity of purpose, honesty and you will promise me that you will not run away with this money.

I have made all verification and perfected arrangement for a clean and successful execution of the transaction within few days of commencement. So there is no risk involved. I require you treat this letter with the utmost urgency.
Best Regards
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources: