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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: SMITH AWALA <smith.awala@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: smith.washington01@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:44:11 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: My Name is Mr.Smith Awala.




Dear Friend,
My Name is Mr.Smith Awala. I am a banker. I hail from Benin Republic. My reason for contacting you is to transfer an abandoned US$5.5M (Five Million Five Hundred United States Dollars to your Bank Account. The owner of this fund died with his Next Of Kin. I want to present you to the bank as the Next of Kin/beneficiary of this fund. 40% will be for you while 60% will be for me. Further details of the transaction shall be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail indicating your interest. Have a great day.
>From Smith Awala,
IDB Bank,Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources: