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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: Joel Zoma <jlzm56@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:58:06 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Urgent attention




Dear Friend, I assume that this message will reach you in good health. However, it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I assured you honesty and reliability to champion this business opportunity. I'm Joel Zoma, from Burkina Faso West Africa, I’m the foreign operation manager of the Bank of Africa. I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds what of ($9,6.Million Dollars) from the account of our bank's customer who died along with his entire family in a plane crash. I am contacting you for this business while the money will be shared between us in the ratio of 50/50,on the acceptance of my proposal, Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your response.Please indicate your willingness by providing the below information for easy communication. Full Name... Contact address...Tel... Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible.Regards Joel. 

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