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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: "John Mark [A.U.R F]" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aurf@africamail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 08:55:43 -0800
Subject: African Union Relief Fund

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
With profound interest, I write this important letter to you. I am John Mark, the Director Relief & Rehabilitation of African Union Relief Fund (A.U.R.F) powered by African Risk Capacity Agency/African Union. I have the privilege to request for your urgent assistance to mutual Business relationship valued USD18 Million. 
 
The above amount resulted from an increase of contract amount executed by our agency.  Our Agency was empowered to administer trust fund of over Six Hundred Million United State Dollars (USD600,000,000,00) for the provision of Relief Materials and Rehabilitation of troubled Countries and conflict zone in Africa sub-region.
 
Due to the over-invoiced amount from the contract we expected which is USD18 Million is still in our Agency account. Since we cannot personally claim the fund, we then intend to look for a reliable trust that will claim and receive the amount on our behalf.
 
We will only apply for the release of the said fund in your name/company and you will serve as a sub-contractor among the foreign contractors that supplied welfare materials to us. We will arrange all the documents to back up this claim as your duty is to stand as one of the contractor and receive the said USD18 Million.
 
Note that we will offer you 40% of the total amount and the remaining 60% will be for me and my colleagues. If you are willing to join us in this Business, kindly let me know immediately by responding to our email: aurf@africamail.com
 
Regards,
 
John Mark
Managing Director
African Union Relief Fund.

Anti-fraud resources: