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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: "Marina Litvinenko" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.lexlitvin010@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:26:49 -0000
Subject: Its Personal*



Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Marina Litvinenko, wife of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian security officer who died in a London hospital after apparently being poisoned with the highly-toxic metal thallium by Mr. Lugovoi, a Russian Government Paid agent.

This is my husband's life in a video for your full understanding.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-420098/MI5-told-Litvinenko-Your-life-danger.html

Your can read articles about my Husband's ordeal via the
websites below: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6708103.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=490007&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

Please I want you to assist me to remove USD$9.5M given to my husband before his death by Mr. Berezovsky, A Russian Billionaire Exiled in UK for exposing an alleged plot to assassinate him by the Russian Authority and to investigate the death of Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian Journalist believed to have equally been poisoned by the Kremlin for writing a book: The Putin's Russia: Life in a Failing Democracy depicted Russia as a country where human rights are routinely trampled.
The Funds are deposited with a financial firm in Europe and I will want to relocate these funds for investment in your region and with your assistance and advice.
As soon as I receive your response, I will furnish you with more details on this issue that is stressing me so badly. I do not mind drawing a business agreement with you.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Marina Litvinenko.


Anti-fraud resources: