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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. Margaret Baran." <anjays@vtpl.info>
Reply-To: msmagaretbaran@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2022 01:20:43 -0000
Subject: Dr. Margaret Baran.


Weill Cornell Medical Associates
Upper West Side
12 W 72nd St, NY 10023

Hello,

I am Dr. Margaret Baran from the Weill Cornell Medical Associates. I am
writing to you from my personal email requesting a favor from you on
behalf of my patient.

I know this will come as a surprise but I need your urgent attention to
fulfill the wish of my dying patient.

Kindly reply back to this email for further details.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Margaret Baran.

Anti-fraud resources: