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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: "MERCY KALU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mercykalu20@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:33:51 -0700
Subject: Your Payment ??

I am Miss Mercy Kalu, a computer scientist working with central bank
of Nigeria. i am 26 years old, just started work with C.B.N. I came
across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted
RED, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY
all fees and certificate but the fund has not been release to you.

The most annoying thing is that they cannot tell you the truths that on
no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they let you
spend money unnecessarily.
I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this
fund to you if you can certify me of my security, and how I can run
away from this Nigeria if I do this, because if I don't run away from
his country after I made the transfer, I will be seriously in trouble and
my life will be in danger.
Please you may not understand it because you are not a Nigerian.
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special
HARD DRIVES we call it HD320 GIG. I will buy two of it, recopy
your information, destroy the previous one, and punch the computer to
reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer
and destroy your file, after which I will run away from Nigeria to meet
with you. If you are interested,

Do get in touch with me immediately on my Email:
mercykalu22@yahoo.co.jp phone +2348099632722
You should send to me your convenient tell/fax numbers for easy
communications and also re confirm your banking details, so that
here won't be any mistake.

Regards,
Miss Mercy Kalu .
Computer Scientist
+2348099632722

Anti-fraud resources: