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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 Katsu Matsunaka" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <katsu99matsunaka@excite.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:59:57 -0400
Subject: Please Confirm Receipt!

HSBC BANK
kashi Hongoku-cho
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8660
Japan

Name: Mr Katsu Matsunaka
Email: katsu99matsunaka@excite.co.jp

I am Mr.Katsu Matsunaka from HSBC Bank in Japan and have a sensitive and
confidential brief from Japan.I am asking for your partnership in
re-profiling funds ($12.200.000). I am contacting you because you live
outside Japan. Finally, note that this must be concluded within two weeks.
Kindly write back and i look forward to hear from you so i can give you
more information about myself and the nature of the funds.

Regards,
Mr. Katsu Matsunaka

Anti-fraud resources: