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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: "Vincent Z" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zvincentesq@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:01:45 -0800
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MR. VINCENT. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

Hello,
 
I am Mr. Vincent Zulu with ABSA Bank in South Africa. I was wondering if you received my last email. I sincerely seek to present you as the Next of Kin to a late client who left behind $45.5 Million USD in a fixed deposit account in my bank. The British born client was into Diamond and Gold mining and died without a Next of Kin.
 
I will obtain the legal documents that will give you the legal right to make this claim legitimately. I am willing to share the funds 60/40 with you and this will be completed within 72 hours. With the legal documents, the bank will approve you as the Next of Kin and pay out this amount to you with within three working days.
 
Please reach me as soon as possible with your full name, address, direct contact number and occupation for the processing of the legal documents if you are interested and can be trusted to return my own share when you have received the funds in your account.
 
More information will be given to you once I hear back from you.
 
Regards
Vincent Zulu
ABSA Bank, South Africa
 

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