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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: "MR.OKONJI DIATA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr_okonji_diata_2002@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:42:07 -0700
Subject: MR.OKONJI DIATA

I am Mr.Okonji Diata,The bank president of The GLOBAL BANK
This morning at about (9:00am Standard Pacific
Time), I was alerted by my Secretary that Three men were at my
Office Reception waiting to see me and so I told my Secretary to
let them in.I had to ask them why they came to see me in person
and they said that they were here to Collect the Inheritance Bill
Sum of Twenty Million Dollars US20,000,000:00 which rightfully
belongs to you, on your behalf.Thanks,OKONJI.DIATA

Anti-fraud resources: