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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: Rob <dpab@pmfi.pr.gov.br>
Reply-To: Rob <2476879692@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 05:00:32 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: hi lovely

Hello pretty,

Hi pretty Angel, i saw your profile picture and must confess you look so elegantly sexy and beautiful. I am a business contractor and have stayed in New York for years and my business takes me to different countries of the world, am a German by birth currently leaving in Europe. I have been divorced since May of last year 2014, i have a daughter kate who is 12years old and now stays with my sister in Madrid. I very much admire your beauty, i love reading love books, i like swimming, i like surfing on the beach, i like walking along the beach and i like your smile, cause you are so beautiful. Since i lost my first wife to cancer in 2010, i remarried in 2012 but that marriage ended because i discovered my ex wife was having an extra marital afair, my intention was to stay away from relationship because i discovered that most women i have met until now are only interested in my money and not in a relationship, but that changed when i saw your picture and how beautiful you are as a woman, i also believe you are a very responsible lady that can take care of her man and make him happy, so i decided to email you. I know you will probably be wondering how i got your email, the truth is i am a Government intelligency contractor for the U.S, i have access to a lot of personal information.
I know it will all sound strange to you but i will really like to know more about you and will be happy if you email me and tell me more about yourself, like your age, relationship status and if you're interested in getting into a love affair.
Please don't mind my writing as i am a German American.
I await your message with a lot of love, have a beautiful day pretty angel.

From an admirer,

Rob.

Anti-fraud resources: