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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: "Mr. Robert Barris" <robertbarris@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 09:05:55 +0000
Subject: get back to me asap

VICTIMNAME,
Good Morning to you Mrs Lew.I hope you did enjoyed your holiday.Once you
are done at the Western Union Office in regards to the resending of the
Money,please get back to me ASAP.


Robert


>From: VICTIMNAME <VICTIMEMAILADDRESS>
>To: "Mr. Robert Barris" <robertbarris@msn.com>
>CC: legallawofficefirm@yahoo.com
>Subject: Re: Send the western union form i have not received it okay.
>Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:39:11 +0900
>
>Dear Mr Barris,
>
>here are the previously mentioned Western Union forms which I had
>already mailed to Mr Barris.
>
>Wishing you and Jerry a Happy New Year
>
>VICTIMNAME
>
>
>On 12/30/05, Mr. Robert Barris <robertbarris@msn.com> wrote:

Anti-fraud resources: