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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: "ahmed usman8" <ahmedusman8@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:01:14 +0200
Subject: URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED..


Dear Sir/Madam

I am a senior staff of Bank of Africa in cotonou Benin. I contacted you
hence to help me secure the sum of (US$15M). deposited by one of our late
customer, Since his death no relative have come for the claim and effort to
locate them without success. I need your cooperation to present as the
beneficiary for the transfer of this fund into your account. For your
cooperation 40% of the sum for you and 60% for me. Kindly contact me at (
ahmed_usman@ymail.com ) your earlieast convenient, God Bless

Dr Ahmed Usman

Anti-fraud resources: