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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: "Ms. Susan VanDer Merwe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <susan.merwe@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 18:32:46 +0800
Subject: Re: I will Appreciate Your feedback,


Hello Dear,

I am indeed sorry for contacting you through this means. However, please I just want to know if your email address is still valid before I go on with a confidential matter I will like you to know and take part in, I am Ms. Susan Van Der Merwe Deputy Minister of International Relations from South Africa, I request for your cooperation on a fund transaction of US$20,000,000,00 Million with me I want you to assist me and receive the fund.

Also let me know if we can talk confidential matters here or if there is a private/personal email address you have, If I can have it? I will appreciate if you can call me on my private number (+27-843580712) to discuss about the matter, if you can not get me on phone writer me email. I will give you more details and my profile as I hear from you.

Best Regard,
Ms. Susan VanDer Merwe.

Anti-fraud resources: