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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:11:19 +0100
Subject: Re: Have you contacted my secretary?


My dear,
=C2=A0=20
I am surprised that I am yet to hear from you after sending two consecuti=
ve mails to you. In the mails that I have been sending to you, I only wan=
ted to show my appreciation towards the successfull completion of the bus=
iness proposal I made to you sometime in the past which you were not able=
to finalise with me then. I succeeded through the assistance of my new b=
usiness partner. Currently I am out of the country with him on a business=
trip.
=C2=A0
However, I did not forget your past efforts in trying to help me complete=
the transaction which I still appreciate so much. In appreciation toward=
s your assistance, I wrote in your favour a certified bank draft worth th=
e sum of $950.000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dolla=
rs), payable to you only as my compensation. I left the bank draft with m=
y secretary which I instructed her to send to you once you contact her an=
d let her know how you want it sent to you.=20
=C2=A0
You are adviced to contact her immediately at her contact information bel=
ow:
=C2=A0
Mrs. Inez Ehuza.=20
Email: inezehuza@hotmail.fr
=C2=A0
Keep me updated as soon as you receive your bank draft and cash your mone=
y.=20
=C2=A0
Best Regards,=20
Macauley Ngize.



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