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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: "johnson nkomo" <johnsonnkomo6@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:56:11 +0000
Subject: URGENT






DEAR VICTIMNAME

I AM VERY HAPPY WITH YOUR REPLY TO MY PROPOSAL, PLEASE BEFORE WE MOVE ON I
WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR ARE CAPABLE TO HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION. ALSO I
WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF COMING HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE YOU ONLY FOUR WORKING
DAYS FOR YOU TO SIGN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO BACK UP THIS FUND AS
FORIGN BENEFICAILRY OF THE FUND SO WHAT I NEED FROM YOU NOW IS TRUST. SO I
WILL LIKE YOU TO FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION TO ME. LIKE YOUR PHONE, FAX
NUMBER.

HOPE TO HAVE YOUR POSITIVE REPLY

REGARD

MR JOHNSON

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources: