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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: USMAN ALI <usman_alii2@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:15:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM USMAN


DEAR
PLS NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A SCAMM IN ANY WAY,IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND ME TO MAKE MONEY AS PARTHNERS,MEANWHILE I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOUR SCAMMED?,BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT.

THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL,I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR ONE WHO WILL HELP IN THIS REGARD THAT WAS WHY I CONTACTED YOU,BUT IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INVESTMENT YOU THINK THAT IS BETTER THAN HOTEL PLS KINDLY FURNISH ME.I GOT TO KNOW YOU WHEN I WAS SEARCHING IN THE INTERNATE FOR SOME ONE TO DO THIS TRANSACTION WITH,I NOW CAME ACROSS YOUR EMAIL I.D.MEANWHILE I WILL LIKE TO KNOW THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.
1.YOUR AGE AND PROFESSION.
2.YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER INCLUDING YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS.
YOU CAN ALSO REACH ME ON 2348035105330.
THANKS,
USMAN


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