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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: Chang Lee <changlee1_cmiecsinosteel@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 05:48:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT


Dear Elisabeth Lehrer,

Thank you for your email, you are expected to make the sum of 4,000usd available to my clearing agents in U.K immediately at the port.

Payment Should be made via western union to,

Name:HOWARD STEPHENS
location: LONDON

Endeavour to provide MTCN number for this payment in order that the funds can be collected.

Awaiting your urgent response.
Yours sincerely,

Chang Lee


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