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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: "DR HELEN COLE" <release_fundsintoaccount@live.co.uk>
Reply-To: bbcfinance@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:48:22 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Payment.

ATTN: RECIPIENT,

WE WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS OF $195,000,000.00 HAVE BEEN
ALREADY PAYED TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN GO AND COLLECT YOUR FUNDS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.

IF YOU ARE READY TO COLLECT YOUR FUNDS,YOU WILL CONTACT US THROUGH OUR
EMAIL ADDRESS:(ukfinancedeptment@live.co.uk)SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO
GIVE YOU YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION TO COLLECT YOUR FUNDS WITHIN THE NEXT
24HRS TIME.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOUR FAITHFULLY,
MANAGING DIRECTOR:
DR HELEN COLE
UK FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Tel: +44 7024084948

Anti-fraud resources: