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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: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com>
Reply-To: officialpayingcentercbn@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2012 07:57:59 -0500
Subject: Dear Madam

Dear Madam .
I hope you received my first message today. I decided to email you again due to the good news I have for you after the long delaying of your payment. You think is over but not yet over, there is good hope for you. Tomorrow 27th Dec 2012 is the day map out for your payment once our office tomorrow.
 
Therefore, I received any instruction from the Chief Justice of Federation in Benin and Presidential office to release that your payment tomorrow 27th Dec and my office must obey the presidential order. What is only need now is the P.E.S fee:  presidential endorsement Signatory fee $48 only. This is only what it cost you to get the payment today, do make the payment on the name  of the P.E.S officer below:
 
Receiver Name............. Ekweasi. C. Lawrence.
City......  Cotonou.
Benin Republic.
 
Kindly move to nearest western union and send this money now and forward the payment to me so I will submit it to the P.E.S office tomorrow and your payment must be grant to you tmw. I am waiting for the payment info from you now then wait for the payment mtcn of $4,000 each for the two payment which will be $8,000. Remember to provide the name you want the $8000 to be paid to you tmw okay, what highly needed now is the P.E.S fee $48.Go send the money now and get back to me with the payment info including the two names which the $8000 will be paid into 2 parts. Thank you and have nice Boxing Day.
 
Yours Faithful,
Tony Johnson

Anti-fraud resources: