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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: "Dr. John Mark" <awilsonvgeddes@wideband.net.au>
Reply-To: richamiller18@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2022 12:36:16 +0200
Subject: *** SPAM (10.4 points) *** Private & Confidential

Dear Friend
I have sent this mail through post before don't know if you get it.
This is to thank you for your effort. I understand that your hands were
tied. Not to worry. I have succeeded, the money has been transferred into the
account provided by a newly found friend of mine in Spain to compensate for
your past assistance and commitments, I have dropped an international
certified bank draft of $1.2M for your investments in life-settlement. I am
in Spain with my family presently. I do intend to establish some business
concerns here, and possibly buy some properties. Now Contact my secretary Mr
Richard Miller on his email richamiller18@gmail.com phone 7052187354 Forward
your mailing address/phone fax number to him, then ask him to send the
cheque to you.

Take good care of your self.
Regards and respect,
Dr. John Mark

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