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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: Mercy Johnson <mercyj.4@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:29:28 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY,




DEAR FRIEND,HOW ARE YOU DOING? I WRITE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE REGISTERED YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT, BUT THE MANAGER OF FINANCIAL TRUST BANK BENIN TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHEQUE WILL GET TO YOU THAT IT WILL EXPIRE.SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE $1.5 MILLION USDOLLARS AND ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE $1.5 MILLION USD IN CASH WAS MADE WITH UPS COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.FURTHERMORE, WRITE A LETTER OF APPLICATION TO THE GIVEN ADDRESS BELOW.DIRECTOR NAME: DR.MR, ABRAHAM MARTINS.COMPANY PHONE NUMBER: +229-930-002-85.COMPANY E-MAIL: (upscourierservice22@yahoo.dk).HOWEVER, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ENABLE THEM LOCATE YOU IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR BOX.BELOW IS WHAT THEY NEED FROM YOU.1.YOUR FULL NAME______________________________________2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS___________________________________3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER__________________4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE_______________________5.A COPY OF YOUR ID___________________________________6.YOUR AGE_____________________________________________7.COUNTRY______________________________________________(NOTE). THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX. I REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF AN AFRICA CLOTHS, THEY DON'T KNOW IT CONTAINED MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX SO DON'T LET THEM KNOW THAT IS MONEY THAT IS IN THE BOX.YOURS,MRS MERCY JOHNSON.
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