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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: JOHN NAZER <johnnazer78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.johnnazer@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 15:20:24 +0200
Subject: LET US COME TOGETHER AS FRIENDS PLEASE

Dear friend,
There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your
heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many
miscreants and impostors (scammers) have taken possession of the
internet to facilitate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it
extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons
to get attention and recognition.

I am John Nazer, the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section in bank of Africa; Ouagadougou Burkina Faso in West Africa
with due respects and regards greetings! For this letter is strictly
personal, intimate and confidential. Forgive this unusual manner of
contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very
private nature. I need your urgent assistance to transfer the sum of
twelve million, five hundred thousand United States dollars ($12, 500.
00) immediately into your account.

It is up to you to decide whether this letter deserves your trust and
confidentiality. And if indeed it does, whatever your actions and your
decision let me know immediately so that I will give you the detail
show we should go about it. I thank you for taking the time to read my
email.
If you are interested and willing to do the transfer with me, then
please reply to my private box: jonazer@live.fr

Best regards,
John Nazer

Anti-fraud resources: