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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Catharine Baines" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cathy.baines@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:45:49 -0800
Subject: RE: HOW I SUCCEEDED GETTING MY FUNDS.

Hello Dear,
I am Mrs Catharine Baines, I am a US citizen, 68 years Old. I reside here in Washington DC. My residential address is as follows. 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW #921
Washington, DC 20036, United States, I am thinking of relocating since I am now Rich and comfortable with my family. I am one of those that took part in the Compensation in Africa many years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid over US$74,000 for the past years while in the US, trying to get my payment all to no avail. And they always stopped my funds with one reason or the order. So I decided to go with my Son here in WASHINGTON D.C with all my compensation documents, And I was directed by the ( FBI) Director to contact Mr. Matthew Barrick, who is a representative of the ( FBI ) and a member of the COMPENSATION AWARD COMMITTEE, currently in Nigeria. and I contacted him and he explained everything to me. He said whoever is contacting us through emails are fake. He took me to the paying bank for the claim of my Compensation payment which was paid to me successfully. Right now I am the most happiest woman on earth because I have finally received my compensation funds of ( US$15.2Million ).
 
Moreover, Mr. Matthew Barrick, showed me the full information of those that are yet to receive their compensation funds and I saw your name and email as one of the scam victims and a US$15.2Million beneficiary, that is why I decided to email you to know if you have received yours, and to advise you to stop dealing with those people, they are not with your funds, they are only making money out of you. I will advise you to contact Mr. Matthew Barrick. You have to contact him directly on this information below to know if he can help you too.
COMPENSATION AWARD HOUSE
Name : Matthew Barrick
Email: matthew.barr@live.com
Phone: +234-809-247-4993
 
You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing left. The only Money I paid after I met Mr. Matthew Barrick was just $390 for the Fund Ownership Paper Work, Take note of that because that was the only money I paid. Once again stop contacting those people, I will advise you to contact Mr. Matthew Barrick so that he can help you to deliver your fund instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you around asking for different kind of money to complete your transaction.
 
Thank You and Be Blessed.
Mrs Catharine Baines
Email: cathy.baines@hotmail.com
1330 New Hampshire Ave NW #921
Washington, DC 20036, United States.

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