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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: "Laurent Kafui" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <speedpost12@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 17:53:24 +0200
Subject: Seeing your consent

Dear Friend,
 
I have emailed you earlier without a response. In my first email I mentioned about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch with, but both of you have the same surname so it will be easy to make you become his next of kin.
 
Before his death, he deposited the sum of twenty one million, seven hundred thousand U.S. dollars with the bank here and now they have asked me to provide a next of kin if there is or the estate will then revert to the government and so it would be lost. My proposal is that you allow to be presented for this role so that documentation could be processed and payment made in your favour.
If you are interested please do let me know so that I can give you comprehensive details on what we are to do.
 
Kindly reconfirm your personal data below:
 
First Name.................
Surname Name:..........
Country Origin:............
 
Regards,
Laurent Kafu

Anti-fraud resources: