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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: "MR.ROBERT SMITH" <robertsmith_cof@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 13:06:49 +0200
Subject: CLAIMS NOTIFICATION

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA
ARGENTARIA ALCALA
MAIN BRANCH MADRID
14TH JULY 2005

ATTENTION:

CLAIMS NOTIFICATION

I WRITE TO INFORM YOU OF A CLAIM IN THE CUSTODY OF OUR BANK ADDRESSED IN
YOUR NAME, REF:WFT/AX/021/ACC.NO 57198713634. THIS CASH WAS DEPOSITED
THROUGH A FINANCE COMPANY (DIPLOMATIC SECURITY AND FINANCE) HERE IN
SPAIN AND HAS YOUR NAME AS THE RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARY TO THE FUND WITH A
DEPOSIT STATEMENT OF £8.3MILLION BRITISH POUNDS. THIS IS THE FIRST
NOTIFICATION TO THIS CLAIM. ON IDENTIFICATION WITH THIS CLAIMS, FURTHER
INFORMATIONS TO THE TRANSFER AND COLLECTION OF THIS CASH DEPOSIT WILL BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU. A NON REPLY TO THIS MAIL INDICATES AN AUTOMATIC
REJECTION OF THIS CLAIMS.

TRULY YOURS
ROBERT SMITH,
CREDIT& DISBURSEMENT DEPT
BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA
ARGENTARIA.

_________________________________________________________________
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