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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: Engr Idioma St Micheals <engridistmik@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:03:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Engr Mike


Dear VICTIMNAME,

Thank you for accepting that your response came late.
You have said something about trust which is really good but all depends on you.
May I here briefly state that we have to go on agreement and the processing of the claim undertaken by me for your receipt as the beneficiary from the paying Bank where I may not know for now.
I will contract an attorney for everything regarding legality and your duty starts upon the notification for the claim.
I will require the below detail okay
1. NAME IN FULL
2.TEL, FAX AND MOBILE NUMBERS
3.YOUR SCANNED INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, THIS I WILL RECIPROCATE OKAY
Mike




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