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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: Bruce Patterson <brupatt@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Bruce Patterson <bruppatt@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 06:49:51 -0700
Subject: Failed Trip!


Hello,

 
Just hoping this email has reached you well, I'm sorry for this
emergency and for not informing you about my urgent trip to Manila,
Philippines but I just have to let you know my present predicament.

 Everything
was fine until I was attacked on my way back to the hotel, I wasn't
hurt but I lost my money, bank cards, mobile phone and my bag in the
course of this attack.I immediately contacted my bank in other to block
my cards and i also made a report at the nearest police station.

 
I've been to the embassy and they are helping me with my documentation
so i can fly out but I'm urgently in need of some money to pay for my
hotel bills and my flight ticket home. I will definitely REFUND you as
soon as i get back home .

 
Kindly let me know if you would be able to help me out so I can forward
you the details required for you to get the funds to me.

Waiting to hear back from you..

Thanks,

Bruce...

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