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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: "James Collins" <jamses65@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 04:59:05 +0100 (WAT)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL




Dear Sir/Madam,


I understand that receiving my email would come to you
like a surprise because you do not know me.I am Mr James
Collins, i formerly work with an OIL MERCHANT COMPANY IN
LIBYA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT OF CRUDE OIL
PRODUCT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

I got your contact through country short listed
directory,i want you to help me clear this package that is
already in oversea which i shipped through our CBN
ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT but the contents of the package
is $20,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills, but the COURIER
COMPANY doses not know that it is money that i have in the
package.
All i want you to do for me now is this give me your full
name,mailing address your private phone and fax number, i
hope that at the end of the day , you will have 25% and
75% will be for me .

My identity must not be revealed to anybody. If this
arrangement is okay by you,you can indicate your interest
by replying to my e-mail for security reasons. other
modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me
including sending of the keys to the boxes to you .

Note: Communication should be strictly through e-mail for
security reasons.

Yours Faithfully,
James Collins

Anti-fraud resources: