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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: "Marvin Brown" <peter_odogwu@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mbrown1@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 13:15:54 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS....

Hello There,
How are you doing today? I hope well?
However I wish to use this medium to inform you that I have a
relatively large sum of Funds for investment; and I would like you to guide
me through the most viable investment opportunities in your country.
Alternatively, I can invest in your line of business/project if you are
interested and if your line of business is viable and lucrative with
high cash flow.
I inherited these funds from my late father. the funds is presently
with a security company in Europe(Holland), But according to my late fathers
will, he wanted the funds to be well managed or invest in a lucrative and
reputable business project to ensure the management of the funds, It is for
this reason that I have made contact with you to know if you are willing to
secure the funds from the security company in Holland for investment on my
family's behalf in your business project, The total funds amounts to
[USD$30.5M], what we need is a partner who will work with my family in
securing the funds for us. Please reach me on E-mail:
marvin.brown@zipmail.com.br
Thanks & Best Regards
Marvin Brown,
[For The Family].


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