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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: =?UTF-8?Q?mikejohn001?= <mikejohn001@o2.pl>
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:35:10 +0200
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?I_HAVE_RESGISTER_IT_WITH_DHL_?=


Dear Friend,I didnot hear from you since for your Confirmable check of $1.2m USD,
which i kept for I went and deposited it with DHL,
so contact them.P.R.O: Dr.Edward Sam
Email: dhl_courier_777@live.fr 
FAX: +229 93 455 938
I paid for the delivering Charges except their Security Keeping
Fee of $185 USD which they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them in case of demurrage.so you
are to pay the $185 as soon as you contact them.
Regards,
Mr  Mike John

Anti-fraud resources: