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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: "Sally silver." <sallywass@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sallywas@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:25:50 +0000
Subject: Seasons' Greetings

Hi
I am Sally Silver 19 years old from Freetown and i live in Senegal Africa,i decided having you as a friend,knowing fully well that it is an act of
expressing or sharing view with one another or people around the world,which has to do with honesty above all faithfulness.I feel that before we can have a good relationship we must put in energy and time. Friendship is one of the most important building blocks of a good relationship. To me friends are like flowers in the garden of life. My desire is to meet a sensitive, warm and God fearing man who wants a friend.
Yours Sincerely
Sally silver.


Anti-fraud resources: