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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: "drogoh2200" <drogoh2200@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 03:19:21 -0600
Subject: REPLY URGENT


MY DEAREST FRIEND,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING
YOU THAT I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE
FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO THE BANK IN
ITALY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND, WHOM
BASED ON AGREEMENT RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY
FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND EFFORTS.

PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO
ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN
SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED. NEVERTHELESS, I
CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS,
THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT, BUT I STILL
APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEANWHILE I HAVE A
SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU.

CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN AFRICA HIS NAME IS MR BEN
BROWN AND HIS EMAIL ADDRESS:
(mrbrown64@myway.com) I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO
DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM OF ONE
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN CHEQUE, WHICH I SET
OUT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION, PLEASE I WANT YOU TO
ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU
DID AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEDAY, BUT RIGHT
NOW I TOO BUSY FOR SOME TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO
FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY SECTETARY MR BEN BROWN .

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,

BEST REGARDS,

DOCTOR MRS UGO CHINERE.

PLEASE YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL INFORMATION SUCH AS STATED BELOW,

[1] NAME: ________________________________
[2] ADDRESS: ____________________________
[3] AGE: _________________________________
[4] SEX: _________________________________
[5] TELEPHONE: __________________________
[6] FAX: _________________________________
[7] OCCUPATION STATUS: __________________


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