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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: "WESTERN UNION OFFICE" <info@ecowas.info>
Reply-To: marcus.hansome@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:37:31 +0700
Subject: AVAILABLE TO PICK UP

Hello,

We wish to inform you that We have sent $5000.00 USD already ,that was
given to you by the United Nations,(ECOWAS ) as we are mandated to send
you the total sum of $200,000 USD through Western Union.send name,
address,phone number.Processing your first payment of 5,000 USD.to collect
Sender:First Name Sean Surname Elliot MTCN 6261167962
Regards
Mr Marcus Martins
Phone: +2348073963559

Anti-fraud resources: