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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: Dim Etta <jrudor3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ettadim@excite.com
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 06:47:43 +0100
Subject: Reply urgently for more details.

Dear friend,

My name is Mr.Dim Etta a legal advocate in Africa, and personal lawyer to a
foreign national who died in a tragic death with his entire family. He left
some huge amount of money with a bank valued at US$16.6 million dollars.

His bank asked me to present a next of kin or have the fund confiscated.
Therefore,since He died along with his entire family members,I contacted
you for assistance to stand as the next of kin /Beneficiary to his Estate
so that the bank will release the fund to you for our investment mutual
interest.

Reply urgently for more details.

Regards,
Yours sincerely,
Mr.Etta.

Anti-fraud resources: