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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: noreplymicrosoftteam <khoa.nv@hfic.vn>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:27:59 -0800
Subject: VIEW AND CANCEL

<html>
 
<table width="100%" height="" align="center"><br>
 
 
<td width="10%"></td>
 
<td width="70%" bgcolor="">
 
 
   <table style="border: solid 1px #A4A4A4;" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
 
 
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0">
 
<tr><td bgcolor="#045FB4" height="110">
 
  <br>
  <table width="80%" align="center"><tr><td>
  <font face="calibri" size="+4" color="#ffffff">
  Server Message
  </font>
  </td></tr></table>
 
</td></tr>
 
<tr><td bgcolor="#F8F8F8" height="">
 
 
  <br><br>
  <table width="80%" align="center"><tr><td>
 
  <font face="calibri" size="+2">
  <b> Dear %0%</b>
  </font>
 
  <p>
 
  <font face="calibri" size="3">
 
 
 
  A Request to deactivate your email was made and this request will be processed shortly.
 
  <p>
 
  If this was made accidentally, you are advised to cancel the request now
 
  </font>
  </td></tr></table>
 
</td></tr>
 
 
 
<tr><td height="15" bgcolor="#F8F8F8"></td></tr>
 
 
<tr><td bgcolor="#F8F8F8">
 
  <table width="80%" bgcolor="#045FB4" height="60" align="center"><tr><td>
  <div align="center">
  <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zd7gm92?email=%0%"
  target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none">
  <font face="calibri" size="+2" color="#ffffff">
  Cancel De-activation
  </font>
  </a>
  </div>
  </td></tr></table>
 
</td></tr>
 
<tr><td height="20" bgcolor="#F8F8F8"></td></tr>
 
 
<tr><td bgcolor="#F8F8F8" height="70">
 
  <table width="80%" align="center"><tr><td>
 
  <font face="calibri" size="3" color="">
  However, if you do not cancel this request, your account will be deactivated shortly <br>
  and all your email data will be lost permanently.
 
  <p>
  Regards.<br>
  <b>Email Administrator</b>
 
 
  </font>
  </td></tr></table>
 
</td></tr>
 
 
<tr><td height="10" bgcolor="#F8F8F8"></td></tr>
 
 
<tr><td height="0" bgcolor="#F8F8F8">
 
  <table width="80%" height="10" align="center"><tr><td>
  <hr width="100%" align="center">
  </td></tr></table>
</td></tr>
 
 
 
<tr><td bgcolor="#F8F8F8">
 
  <table width="80%" height="" align="center"><tr><td>
  <font face="calibri" size="2">
  This message is auto-generated from E-mail security server, and replies sent to this email can not be delivered.
  <br>
  This email is meant for: <b><font color="#045FB4">%0%</font></b>
  </font>
  </td></tr></table>
 
</td></tr>
 
 
<tr><td height="30" bgcolor="#F8F8F8"></td></tr>
 
 
</table>
 
 
   </td></tr></table>
 
</td>
<td width="20%"></td>
 
 
</tr></table>
 
 
 
</html>

Anti-fraud resources: