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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: "Mr. Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jhnbrwn954@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2015 05:35:31 -0700
Subject: RE:PRIVATE MESSAGE

Good day,
 
I represent the interest of a top government official who needs your partnership. He is a highly placed top official in the Oil and Gas sector to source a trustworthy and reliable individual whom he can place the sum of $49.7M for management, either in an existing establishment or other venture to be undertaken at your discretion.
 
 
This amount is an over-invoiced contract bills awarded to some foreign firm by Chevron Corporation. The actual contract bill has been paid out already leaving the aforementioned sum. We need your assistance in this urgent deal; the claim documents will be prepared in your name as the last contractor whose fund is yet to be claimed. You will not be breaching any law or see yourself at any risk if you accept this proposal and willing to work with us in TRUST.
 
 
All that we require is your TRUST and ability to receive the funds and invest it in profitable ventures. Details of this will be made clear as you respond to this letter. In line with this I crave your indulgence to treat this letter with utmost seriousness and confidentiality trusting that this will be the beginning of a long lasting business relationship between us. Hope to hear back from you.
 
 
Yours faithfully
 
 
Mr. J. Brown

Anti-fraud resources: