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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: Micheal Silas <ms5@zay.att.ne.jp>
Reply-To: michealsilas424@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 23:41:37 +0900
Subject: very urgent


--
Good Day

You did not respond to my first mail, but I decided to write again
in case you did not receive the first one. Please I want to know if am
talking with the right person, I am asking this because I have an
information that will be of help to you, Once again My Name is Mr.Micheal Silas
I am a banker.

I do not know if I am talking to the right person, But I will like you
to confirm if you are the owner of this email ID. Already I have your
name and details in our file in the office, all I want is a confirmation
from you that I am communicating with the right owner of this email.

I will furnish you with the information that I have for you, When I am
convinced I am talking to the right person. I am taking this preventive
measure because I do not want to talk to the wrong person because of the
sensitivity of the information regarding the issue.

Looking forward to your response.

Micheal Silas

Anti-fraud resources: