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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: "Alexei Zakharenko" <zakharenko20052005@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 08:54:10 -1000
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL

DEAR KIENA,

THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL AND YOUR WILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS TRANSACTION. I WIL
LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRE UPTIMUM COPERATION
BETWEEN THE BOTH OF US.

I WILL NEED YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX, ALL MODALITIES HAS BEEN SET FOR
THE SUCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.

PLEASE DO GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX IMMEDIATELY.

REGARDS.

ALEXEI.

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