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

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Mark" <markfrank205@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: markfrank200@yahoomail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 16:39:55 -0800
Subject: REPLY FAST

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

WE THE MANAGEMENT OF ATLANTIC VENTURES LIMITED, A COMPANY IN NIGERIA
WHO EXPORTS GINGER,GARLIC AND LIMESTONE IN OUR EXPANSION PROJECT WISH
TO ASK FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

YOUR DUTY:
YOU WILL RECEIVE FUNDS ON OUR BEHALF FROM OUR NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS IN
YOUR COUNTRY AND HELP US SEND IT ACROSS AS DIRECTED.

YOUR REWARD:
FOR EVERY FUND RECEIVED FROM ANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WE WILL BE PAYING A
COMMISION OF 5% WHICH YOU WILL DEDUCT FROM ANY FUND RECEIVED AND PAY
THE REST INTO OUR ACCOUNT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO HASTEN THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS AS PAYMENT
INTO OUR OFFSHORE ACCOUNT POSES DELAY IN OUR TRANSACTION WHICH TAKES UP
TO 21 DAYS TO MATURE AND THIS SLOWS DOWN OUR BUSINESS.
WE ARE BANKING ON YOUR TRUST TO ACT IN THIS CAPACITY,AND WE WILL NEED
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOU TO ENABLE US PASS ACROSS TO OUR
CUSTOMERS SO THAT PAYMENT CAN BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.
1 FULL NAMES
2 CONTACT ADDRESS
3 TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
4 AGE AND NEXT BRITHDAY.
WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER OUR PROPOSAL AND ACT IN DESPACTH.
MARK FRANK.
FOR MANAGEMENT.


Anti-fraud resources: