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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MOHAMMED ABACHA" <mo_aba@fsmail.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mo_aba@fastermail.com
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 06:08:31 -0800
Subject: HELLO

Mr. Mohammed Abacha.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/468903.stm
DEAR FRIEND,

I am Mohammed Abacha, the eldest son of the late president of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha. I was falsely accused of murder and as such was imprisoned, but thanks to God, I have been released
for my innocence. Well dear friend I need your assistance in transferring some of my money into your account, because the government is making plans to seize them, as they did to my fathers own.Please view this site and read it's content carefully, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/468903.stm
the amount is $25 million in a Security Abroad. All that is needed is for me to instruct the company to transfer the funds to your account, I will remunerate you with 30% of the total funds transferred to your vital bank account as compensation for your assistance, To indicate your interest, contact me immediatelyl. All the legal information concerning this Money will be sent to you as soon as we agree together. So I will get my private attorney to get you the needed information. If this proposal satisfies you, please contact me immediately with your full names, telephone and fax numbers to enable my lawyer to contact you. He shall handle this transaction from beginning to the end on my behalf.

Looking forward to doing business with you.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Best Regard.

Mohammed Abacha.






Anti-fraud resources: