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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "RICHARD BLAKES" <richard_blakes@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 15:51:53 +0000
Subject: I ANTICIPATE YOUR REPLY

DEAR SIR,
THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT IT WAS
OUT OF
MY DESIRE TO SHARE THIS MUTUAL PROPOSAL WITH
YOU, I GOT YOUR NAME AND
ADDRESS THROUGH THE CHAMBERS
OF COMMERCE IN HOLLAND
MY NAME IS MR.
RICHARD BLAKES GENERAL SECRETARY IN
ASSOCIATE FINANCIAL SECURITIES
COMPANY HERE IN HOLLAND
THERE IS A CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING A
SUM OF
(30,000,000.00USD)THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN OUR
COMPANY FOR SAFE KEEPING BY
ONE MR. GUEI WALTER BEFORE HIS DEATH, NO
ONE HAS COME
TO CLAIM THIS CONSIGNMENT AS A BENEFICIARY TILL DATE.
I AM
HONORABLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS
FOLLOWS:
(1) I WANT YOU TO ACT
AS A BENEFICIARY
(2) I WANT YOU TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS
MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
I WILL PROVIDE YOU THE ENTIRE NECESSARY
DOCUMENT FOR
THIS CONSIGNMENT TO PROVE THE CONSIGNEE AS A
BENEFICIARY
TO THE COMPANY, 40% OF TOTAL AMOUNT
MAPPED OUT FOR YOU WHILE THE 60%
MAPPED OUT FOR ME.
IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH MY CONDITION DO NOT HESITATE TO
CALL ME ON MY DIRECT LINE (0031 626 344 470) OR YOU
can email SO THAT I
CAN
FURNISH YOU UP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED,
I WISH TO HEAR FROM
YOU SOON.
FOR QUICK RESPONSE PLEASE REPLY TO
richardatblakes@netscape.
net
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION


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