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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jsmith_12008@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:56:19 -0000
Subject: Help me please

I need your help call me with this number +228 9828 0136
Hope this mail meets you well, please permit me to introduce myself to you, my name is miss jean smith, the only daughter of Late Mr/Mrs. Williams Smith.
I am seeking for your assistance to help me transfer the sum of ( $7,000,000.00 ) Seven Million United State of American Dollars that I inherited from my late father to your bank account .
I am willing to offer you 15% of the total fund as a mode of compensation after the transfer for your time and effort. All the necessary documents concerning this fund is intact. Please get back to me through my private email address
(jsmith_12008@yahoo.fr) for more details concerning this fund and I will equally send you my photos so that you will see and know whom I am. I need your help call me with this number +228 9828 0136
Waiting for your cooperation.
Yours Faithfully,
Jean

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