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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: "john paul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnpaul2002@live.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:12:53 +0200
Subject: urgent reply needed

FROM: JOHN PAUL
NO: 12 MANDELA CLOSE.
SONTON JOHANNESBURG.
SOUTH-AFRICA.
PHONE +27-79 549 7866
Email: johnpaul2002@live.com

I write to you irrespective of the fact that you don't know me. I got your contact from your country business directory and through a reliable source. First, I must introduce myself, My Name is John Paul I am a staff of one of the leading banks in South Africa I am writing asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds, which we want to keep under your supervision. The Funds totaling ($18,800,000) I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this fund cannot be approved to a local Bank here, because the funds are in US Dollars. The owner of this account is Officer William Tansky 57 years of age from Los Angeles, CA in America, and he died since 2000 in an air crash along with his wife & Daughter on 31/01/2000 in an Alaska Airlines Flight 261 with other passengers on board.

Please, I am proposing 30% for you for your assistance while my colleagues and I receive 60% and 10% earmarked for purposes of taxation in your country and mine. Please if you are interested kindly forward to me the following information stated below:

(1) Your direct telephone number:
(2) Your direct fax number:
(3) Your Full Names:
(4) Your age:
(5) Your Residential Address:

And I will send you all the detailed information and documents that you will need to process an application for the claims of the funds.

Regards
Mr. John Paul.
PHONE+27-79 549 7866

Anti-fraud resources: