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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: "Google© 2012 Award" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claimsdesk@googleaward.tk>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:57:16 -0600
Subject: Esteem Beneficiary

Esteemed beneficiary,
To mark our 14th anniversary, Google Inc. has selected you as one of our award beneficiary.Your Email attached to G-Code No: GAP/275-XX-9384-12 have won for you the sum of £1,500,000.00 Great Britain Pounds Sterling {One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds} in the Google 2011 Award. For Further directives, contact your Claims/verification officer and provide him the following claims requirements:  (A) Your Full Names: (B) Your Permanent Address/Country: (C) Sex:  (D) Age:  (E) Direct Telephone Number(s)/Fax.
Dr. Donald Cole (Claims/verification officer),
E-mail: claimsdesk@googleaward.tk
Tel #:   +44-704-575-1806
         +44-203-026-2817
Fax #:   +44-700-606-5516
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Albina Cox
Online Coordinator, Management.

Anti-fraud resources: