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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: "British Lottery" <info@britishlottery.com>
Reply-To: fidicialdesk27@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 22:20:45 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Contact Us Via E-mail fidicialdesk27@yahoo.com.hk or call +44 704
575 1113

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 164 75627546 155 Serial
number 5388/02 lucky numbers: 47-6-456-13-61-8, which won you the
lottery.You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of
US$2,500,000.00. Contact Us Via E-mail fidicialdesk27@yahoo.com.hk or call
+44 704 575 1113


Anti-fraud resources: