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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: "Gail Saville" <gilliansaville@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:46:49 +0200
Subject: FRIEND

HELLO SALLY
THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN. THE TRUTH BEING TOLD I WAS A BIT BUSY AN WORRIED, MY MUM WAS IN HOSPITAL ABOUT A MONTH. SHE HAD A 'STENT'. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT SHE'S BEEN HAME 2 MONTHS BUT IS STILL NOT 100%. HER DOC WANTED TO PUT IN A PACEMAKER, BUT THE CARDI-GUY WAS NOT TOO SURE. ANYWAYS I THINK SHE DOES NEED IT, SHE GETS OUT OF BREATH EASILY AN CAN'T WALK VERY FAR. SHE HAD A ECHO OF THE HEART THE OTHER DAY NOW WAITING FOR THE RESULTS WHICH WILL DETERMINE WHAT'S WRONG. MY ADDRESS IS THE SAME ONLY MY E-MAIL IS NEW. SALLY PLEASE SEND ME SOME LATEST PHOTO'S OF YOU PAUL & KIDS. I'LL WRITE MORENEXT TIME HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR.
PLEASE SEND ME HOME ADDRESS.
TAKE CARE SALLY LOVE TO PAUL
LOVE ..GAIL  

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