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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: hassan abu <hassanabu_esq5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <hassanabu_esq@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 01:30:07 +0000
Subject: HELLO GET BACK TO ME ASAP


I am Hassan Abu {ESQ}.Personal Attorney to Mr.Yohanna Moore,who lived in Dakar - Senegal, Here in after shall be referred to as my client.who died with his family in the plane crash .I have contacted you to assist inrepatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated by the Finance Company where this huge deposit was lodged in. Particularly, the financial insist where the deceased had an account valued at about $15.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account Confiscated within the next twenty official working days.Since i have been unsuccessful in locating relatives, I now seek your consent to present you as the nextof kin of the deceased so that the Proceeds of this account valued at 15.5 million dollars can be paid to you.
If you agree, we can share the fund in a ratio of 50% to you and 50% to me. I have all necessary Legal documents that can beused to back up any claim we may make. All i require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement. That will protect you from any breach of the law. I will like you to send me your full name and address, private telephone and fax number for easy communication.Best regards,Hassan ABU (Esq.)
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Anti-fraud resources: