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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: mark bello <markbello200@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 09:33:11 +0100 (CET)
Subject: URGENT RESPOND


DEAR TIBELDA BECKEN,
THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL,WHAT ASSURANCE DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU WILL SEND THE $245.I ASSURED YOU TIME WITHOUT NUMBER THAT THIS IS LEGITIMATE AND I WOULD HAVE PAY THE $245 IF I AM IN POSITION TO DO SO.WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY YOUR BELOW STATEMENT?
(IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN SEND MY IDENTITY?)
THE DRAFT WAS ISSUED ON YOUR NAME AND IT BELONGS TO YOU SO HOW MUCH IS $245 THAT I WILL WITHHELD? PLEASE IF YOU ARE READY TO RECEIVE YOUR DRAFT KINDLY SEND THE MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE I SUBMIT YOUR DRAFT TO THE SECURITY COMPANY BECAUSE I AM NOT
CONFORTABLE KEEPING THIS DRAFT IN MY OFFICE.IF YOU ARE READY TO RECEIVE YOUR DRAFT KINDLY SEND THE MONEY AS THUS:
RECEIVER:AUGUSTINE EKWEOLU
ADDRESS:20 JONQUET ROUT.
CITY:COTONOU
COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC
SENDER:NAME..........
TEXT QUEST AND ANSWER.
ENDEAVOUR TO SEND THE CONTROL NUMBER OF THE MONEY TO ABLE ME RECIEVE THE MONEY AND MAIL YOUR DRAFT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.YOU CAN DIRECTLY REACH ME THROUGH THIS PHONE NUMBER (+22993558745 )
REGARDS AND GODS BLESS YOU.
MARK BELLO.

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