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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: "MR SAMSON BILL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmarymilller@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 15:42:22 +0100
Subject: Contact Mrs. Mary Miller For Your A T M Master Card { Tel:+234-802-386-5471

Dear Friend,
 
How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transaction and transfer of your A.T.M Master Card, am sorry for presenting and using someone else in your name to get this transaction successful. Due to logistic reasons and your inconsistence to the other best known to you. Right now, I want to inform you that I have successfully cleared your A.T.M Master Card to someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture that have been over and successful.
 
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1,300,000 (One Million Three Hundred Thousand United State of America Dollars). I have authorized my personal secretary Mrs. Mary Miller where I deposited the money to issue you your A.T.M Master Card, cashable in any A.T.M Machine in your country. My dear friend I will like you to contact Mrs. Mary Miller for the collection of your A.T.M Master Card.
 
Her name and contact address is as follows:
Name:   Mrs. Mary Miller
Email:  mrsmarymilller@yahoo.com
Tel:    +234-802-386-5471
 
Contact Mrs. Mary Miller At the moment finally remembers that I have forwarded instructions to Mrs. Mary Miller on your behalf to send the A.T.M Master Card of $1,300,000 (One Million Three Hundred Thousand United State of America Dollars) to you as soon as you contact her without delay. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
 
Best Regards.
Mr. Samson Bill

Anti-fraud resources: