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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: "Grace kenga" <grace31@torba.com>
Reply-To: gracekenga2008@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 05:49:45 +0100
Subject: MESSAGE FROM GRACE KENGA


FROM: MISS GRACE KENGA.

YOUR KIND ATTENTION

I AM GRACE KENGA FROM BO FREE TOWN SIERRA LEONE.WE ARE WRITTING TO
SEEK YOUR HIGHLY ESTEEMED HELP/ CONSENT IN A LASTING BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL BENEFIT, INVOLVING $14MILLION USD FOR
INVESTMENT IN YOUR COMPANY/COUNTRY UNDER A JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP.

FOR DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTION AND SOURCE OF FUND,CONTACT AND REPLY
IMMEDIATELY FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WAITING FOR YOUR EARLIEST RESPONSE.

REGARDS.
GRACE KENGA

Anti-fraud resources: