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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. John Michael" <swissbanktechnician@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: swissbanktechnician_banknote@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:57:44 +0400
Subject: Your Assistance Needed.

Attention;
Dear Sir/Madam,

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. I GOT YOUR NAME AND CONTACT FROM THE TOGOLESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
I PRAYED OVER IT AND SELECTED YOUR NAME AMONG OTHER NAMES DUE TO IT'S ESTEEMING NATURE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO ME AS A REPUTABLE AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON
I CAN DO BUSINESS WITH AND BY THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS I MUST NOT HESITATE TO CONFIDE IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.

I am Mr. John Michael, am bank technician work with Central Bank of Switzerland this is the bank instruction from the above World Bank Association, Treasury Washington D.C Direction.
For your information this is business do not contact embassy for this business,
because am not longer working with they, I have already retied since 2002.
I have safe full of bank note contains $163 millions of dollars and with 5 ML of Super Tenere B11 180, please through the instruction.
There's one attachment below this message you will see the certificate file, and read it immediately.
Hope to hear from you soonest,
You may contact me through this email address; swissbanktechnician_banknote@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Mr. John Michael
Swiss Bank Technician.


Anti-fraud resources: