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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: "Philip Strapton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <straptonphilip@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 10:00:55 +0100
Subject: Happy New Year from Mr. Philip Strapton.

Dear Sir/Madam,
This is not an unsolicited email but an indemnity claim proposal. Please you read below for confirmation and please keep this email to yourself and not to disclose to anyone.
I contacted you because you have same name identity with our late client, he die on a plane crash on Monday, September 17, 2007, you can read the news here.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/17/plane-crash-in-thailand-leaves-8-dead/
I have been mandated by our claim department to avail the next of kin or relative of our late client. He died without any registered next of kin as he was long divorced and had no child and you can perfectly fit in as his next of kin.
Express your interest; and reply.
Best regards,
Philip Said Strapton.

Anti-fraud resources: