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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: MARGARET JOHNSON <dubisi5@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: johnsonmargaret73@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:25:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

$B?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9$r$*CN$i$;$7$^$9?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9!'(B dubisi5@yahoo.co.jp

ATTN:SIR


IT WAS RESOLVED AND AGREED THAT YOUR INHERITANCE FUND


VALUED AT $5.5M WOULD BE RELEASE TO YOU ON A


SPECCIAL METHOD OF PAYMENT WHICH IT'S TAG NAME READS


SWIFT CREDIT CARD.SEND YOUR NAME,ADDRESS,NEXT OF KIN,


PHONE $ FAX NUMBER TO CLAIM YOUR FUND


MAIL ME


-M. JOHNSON



- MARGARET JOHNSON


Anti-fraud resources: