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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Koch" <gckoch1938@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gckoch1938@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:17:24 -0000
Subject: Happy new year to you.




Dear Reader,

I am Charles Koch 79 years of age CEO, Koch Industries a cancer patient
suffering from cancer of the lungs. Recently, my Doctor told me that I
would not last for the next 3 months having kept this sickness secret from
public notice, I decided to donate some part of my hidden deposit of
Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000.00) to an organization or good person
that will utilize this money in good faith to help the poor instead of
forfeiting it to the bank when I will be no more.

I took this decision because my family have restricted me from making
annual donations considering my charitable offer to the less previledged
extravagant. Because of my family ill will in continuing with my annual
donations, I am keeping everything concerning this donation to you as a
secret therefore I will not like any public notice about this donation.
Please keep it personal.

I have asked one thing of my creator; to bless me that I may bless others,
to give me that I may share with those who do not have; because on my own
I can do nothing ,but I can do all things through HIM that strengthens me.

I kept this deposit secret till date, this is why I am taking this
decision. I will not need any telephone communication in this regard
because of my family.

If you are willing to make the world a better place by using this deposit
to help the poor and less previledged kindly provide me with your:

FIRST NAME:......... LAST NAME................ AGE:..........
ADDRESS:.......... CITY: ........... STATE:......... PHONE:...............
CELL PHONE..........

Upon your reply I will issue a letter of authorization on your name which
will be forwarded to the bank where I made the deposit to proof you as the
present rightful beneficiary of this money to enable them contact you for
the transfer of the money to you.

Regards

Mr. Charles Koch

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