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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: "joseph mobutu" <joseph_j6@msn.com>
Reply-To: josephj2@myway.com
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 16:27:14 +0000
Subject: OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF FUNDS DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME


FROM JOSEPH JOHNSON
40 WOODALE STREET
EAST WAY,
UK.LONDON.


This is an official notification of funds deposited in your name.

We arrange for the safekeeping of special and valuable packages and baggage
in trust for reputable clients that are honest and trustworthy.


A benefactor whose identity can not be disclosed because of the Non
Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement that was signed with the said
benefactor when the funds were being deposited, made you the beneficiary of
a package containing some amount of money.

The Non Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement signed with the
benefactor mandates us to fully divulge and disclose the benefactor's
identity 18 months after you, the beneficiary, has received the funds.

The funds totals US$7.5M (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) and we confirm that these funds are fully free of any liens, or
encumbrances and are clean, clear and non-criminal origin and are available
in the form of CASH.

You are hereby advised to reconfirm your Full Contact Information for
verification with information contained in our database in the format stated
below. After verifying the details with the information we have in our
database,you will be contacted to personally claim the funds in the Finance
and Security Firm in Europe where its being kept with the Consignment
Deposit Information (C.D.I) that will empower you to do so.

This Consignment Deposit Information (C.D.I) is what is needed to claim the
funds and will only be sent to you after all your information has been
verified and confirmed to be true.

The information should therefore be sent in the manner stated below so as to
ensure that no mistake is made.

Your Full Name: __________________

Your Complete Address (Physical Address with Zip Code) : _________________

Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year):______________


Direct Telephone/Mobile Number: ______________________

Fax Number:____________________

Complete the above and send back to me as soon as possible

Congratulations in advance.

YOURS FAITHFULLY

JOSEPH JOHNSON


Anti-fraud resources: