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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: "SMITHS JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2017 18:58:38 -0700
Subject: WE KNOCKED AT YOUR DOOR FOR YOUR DELIVERY

PHONE : (202) 830-0927 SEND TEXT IF NOT ANSWERED

I am Smith Johnson and using this time to call upon your attention , please get back to me via email or send me a text message to my phone, i came to your house today to inform you that we have arrived with your long time transaction which has been delayed by some aspects of frauds but met your absence.

We arrived yesterday with your $16.8 million and presently dropped your funds at the treasury department as we are been told to visit you at your place and ensure that you are alright and ready to receive your money before we can take further delivery step.

Reason for my appearing in person to your home is because, there is a notice in your file which post that you are not alright , you have been sick and admitted to the hospital, says you have authorized Carl Emmet to stand for your claims as he claimed to be your attorney.

We thought he could be telling lies and we got an instruction to visit your home and ensure that you still lived there but met your absence.

However, you have no much to do as your consignment of $16.8 million is presently here in the U.S and it require no documents, we are ready for the delivery to your home as soon as you reply back to me and telling me that you are 100% alright and ready to have your consignment.

Smith Johnson

Anti-fraud resources: