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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: "REV.MRS SARAH BURNS." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sburns333@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2015 03:59:53 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS !!!

DEAR FRIEND,
 
BE INFORMED THAT YOUR FUND OF $15.5M IS NOW READY TO BE SENT TO YOU BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT THROUGH A BANK DRAFT WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE AND PAY IT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH 72 HOURS AFTER YOU PAY IN THE DRAFT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY THE FUND WILL BE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE WITHDRAWAL OF ANY AMOUNT YOU WISHED.
 
REPLY AND RECONFIRM YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS WHERE WE WILL SEND THE DRAFT TO AS WELL WE WANT YOU TO CHOSE BETWEEN DHL AND UPS THE ONE THAT IS CLOSE TO YOU THAT YOU ADVISE US TO USE IN SENDING YOU THE DRAFT. THE EARLIER YOU RESPOND TO THIS MAIL THE BETTER FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THIS FUND NOW THAT IS READY.
 
REGARDS,
 
REV.MRS SARAH BURNS.
DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES,
REPLY TO:  sburns333@yahoo.com

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