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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: Eric Boweel <j_mark@orange.nl>
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 19:36:16 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONTACT REVEREND ANTHONY


DEAR FRIEND,

I AM BARRISTER ERIC BOWELL AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUTMY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT (REVEREND ANTHONY) ON THE INFORMATION BELOW TO RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF ($1.5MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY).

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HIM
(REVEREND ANTHONY EKU) .
EMAIL ADDRESS (rev_anthony01@yahoo.fr)


SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:


YOUR FULL NAME;...............................
YOUR ADDRESS:................................
YOUR COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR AGE:.........................................
YOUR OCCUPATION:...........................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:......................



NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT'S YOU. ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF $1.5 MILLION US DOLLARS CASHIER'S CHEQUE, WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU. NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I AM CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.


REGARDS,
MR. ERIC BOWELL.



Anti-fraud resources: