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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: "vera_thomas01@yahoo.com" <3verathomas@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 02:44:30 +0100
Subject: regarding my adorable yorkies for adoption


MY NAME IS VERA THOMAS, I AND MY HUSBAND ARE ON A
CHRISTIAN MISSION TO AFRICA AND I CAME ALONG WITH MY
PUPPY.
AFTER A WHILE I NOTICE THAT THE AFRICAN WEATHER IS
NOT GOOD FOR THE PUPPY (YORKIE) AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE GOOD
CARE OF HER THE WAY I ALWAYS DO BECAUSE OF MY JOB. I NEED A SOMEONE TO
ADOPT HER AND TAKE CARE OF HER THE WAY I ALWAYS DO. IF YOU CAN TAKE GOOD
CARE OF HER DO SEND A REPLY AND I WILL EMAIL YOU HER PICTURES.
I HOPE TO READ FROM YOU.
REGARDS,
MRS VERA

Anti-fraud resources: