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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss,Caroline Owen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mscarolineowe1001@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 15:21:50 +0100
Subject: From Miss,Caroline Owen

Good News to you, 
 
I am Miss,Caroline Owen,A computer scientist with central bank of Nigeria.
 
I am 28 years old,working with C.B.N. (Central Bank) I came acrossyour file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED,I tooktime to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all feesand certificate but the fund has not been release to you The mostannoying thing is that nobody is telling you the truth that on noaccount will they ever release the fund to you.
 
Instead,they let you spend money unnecessarily.
 
I do not intend to work for this end of year 2014 but I can releasethis fund to you ifyou can certify me of my security, and how I can run away from thisNigeria if I do this, because if I don't run away from this countryafter I made your transfer,I will be Seriously in trouble and my lifewill be in danger here,also have this in brain that you are going totake 70% of total fund and 30% to me after you have proved the fund inyour account.
 
Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria; you may not understandit because you are not a Nigerian.
 
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISKwe call it HD120 GIG YOU WILL BUY ME THE TWO OF THE DISK FOR THETRANSFER,and i will recopy your information,destroy the previousone,and punch the computer to reflect in your bank within 24 bankinghours I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file,after which Iwill run away from Nigeria to meet with you there.
 
If you are interested to buy the HARD DISK for me there or here forthe transfer,do get in touch with me immediately and send to me:
 
1) Your full Name:
 
2) Your address:
 
3) Your phone numbers:
 
For phone conversation,please call me on Tel: +234-8157513275 andwrite me back immediately you receive this message if you areinterested to Buy the HD120 GIG for the release of your $10,7 Millionoverdue inheritance payment.
 
Regards,
 
Miss,Caroline Owen

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