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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: "Mr Mark Benson Director" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsteveedward36@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2020 22:16:32 -1100
Subject: Compensation

I'm successful transferred the funds with a help of a new partner from Columbus Ohio and Presently am in Omen for oil investment projects with my partner and I kept an ATM DEBIT VISA CARD of Us$550,000.00 for your compensation towards your past effort and attempts so quickly contact my secretary.
 
Mr.Steve Edward
Email address.(mrsteveedward36@gmail.com)
 
I may not have access to communicate with my secretary due to the investment project i have at hand here and i left an instruction to my secretary for your contact and below is your PIN CODE of the ATM DEBIT VISA CARD and it is only the card that my secretary will send to you.
 
Pin-6670 Password-9022.
 
Best regards.
MR.MARK BENSON DIRECTOR

Anti-fraud resources: