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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: "James DiLoreto" <jamesdiloreto11_1@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 03:32:19 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION FRIENDS:(SEE THIS)

Hello,
My name is Mr.James DiLoreto. I am a dieing man who had decided to donate what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for
cancer about 2 years ago,immediately after the death of my wife, who had left me everything we worked for.I have been touched by God to donate from what we sweat for to you for the good work of God,rather than allow my relatives to use  our hard earned funds ungodly. I  have asked God to forgive me all my sins and i believe he has
because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation,and i pray that i survive the operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $6,500,000(six million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and to help the motherless,less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due to the fact that my relatives are around me and i have been restricted by my doctor from taking telephone calls because i deserve all the rest i can get.I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. Email Address:jamesdiloreto12_1@yahoo.ca
I know I have never meet you but my mind tells me to do this,and i  hope you act
sincerely.
 
love,
Mr.James DiLoreto
 
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished,as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last
wish, due to the fact that i do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of my last wish.

Anti-fraud resources: