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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: "James Chan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesschan@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2017 23:44:18 -0500
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

Attn:
 
This is to inform  you that  your long overdue funds which have being duly approved for immediate payment by the New President Federal Republic of Nigeria, this decisions was taken today  and I was mandated through my office to release the sum of US$3.5Million  which was approved in your name  for immediate payment through the  office of Presidency as the  payment Administrator and you are required to get back to me  through my  below e-mail   with your information:
Your Full Name ........................
Your Contact Address ......................
Your Telephone No:.......................
Your Age / Sex ..........................
A Copy of your ID............
Your occupation……..
I will not remind you about this again and any other arrangement you have with Banks or Government Agency as regards to your payment outside this is not from  the Federal Government of Nigeria and you should disregard further communication with them  and  I wait to hear from you for more details.
Sincerely Yours,
James Chan

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