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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: "BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bhighcoms02@mail15.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 00:54:18 +0530
Subject: Good Day, Your Urgent Attention Required.

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION The British School of Cotonou, Haie Vive, 08 BP 0352, Cotonou, Benin. Sir, REF:FRAUD VICTIM The Government of the West African Countries (ECOWAS) under the African Union (AU) have recompensed you following the meeting held with the Government of the various countries' high commission with the AU chairman, Dr.Robert Mugabe for the fraudulent activities carried out by her Citizens on you. This is to cushion the effect of the present economic difficulties on you. Your email address confirms that you were among those defrauded as listed by the FBI and Scot Yard through email scam by fraudsters either as contract payment, Next of kin claims, lottery and game wins etc. By citizens of either Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and even south Africa, from any part of the globe where they operate from. Be informed that a total of two Million four hundred and fifty thousand US dollars ($2,450,000.00) was allocated to you by the heads of states of the African Union as you were indicated as one of the fraud victims. Your current phone number/contact address should be made available to this Commission in acknowledgment of this mail to effect the processing and release of your fund by the nominated bank. You can as well contact the Director in charge of the release/CEO of ADB Bank South Africa. African Development Bank 339 Witch-Hazel Avenue. J.bourg South Africa Attn: Mr. Ebrima Faal. Further communication between you and fraudsters should be discontinued as such will result to a total cancellation of the release of the stated fund to you. You are requested to acknowledge the receipt of this mail with your details for proper update of the file opened for you in this regard. Yours faithfully. Mrs. Pauline Collins for. Mr.Andrew Peacock (Commissioner}

Anti-fraud resources: