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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: Mrs Flora Patrick <cbn_dept001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: florapatrick101@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:39:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello My Dear


Dearest friend,
=A0=20
I am Mrs. Flora Patrick from Netherlands. I am deaf
and has cancer of the breast, I lost my husband 12yrs
ago without a child of mine.I have to sell all my
properties left by my husband because the doctors say
i=A0 have less than 2months to live. i have deposited
the funds of $3.5m,i sold from my properties into a
security company.
=A0=A0=20
=A0 I want you to help me use the funds to help the
charity,deaf and the motherless babies home before i
die.If you are a good and honest
=A0Christian ,i shall give you the contact of the
security company,so as to claim my funds before my
death.Expecting your urgent response,and may God bless
you as you carry out my wish.
=A0=A0=20
=A0 yours dying sister
Mrs Flora Patrick
=0A=0A=0A

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