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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: "ahmed hassan" <ahmed_hassan09@mixmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 14:03:31 +0200
Subject: PLZ IT'S URGENT


* * *FROM THE DESK OF MR AHMED HASSAN
FOREIGN REMITTANCE MANAGER.
BANK OF AFRICA(B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.*
*
DEAR FRIEND,*
*
I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE NEVER MET
BEFORE.
**I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF
($22.5MILLION DOLLARS
UNITED STATES).AFTER HEARING FROM YOU I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE
TRANSACTION. THIS IS MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADRESS (ahmed_hassan09@mixmail.com OR
YOU CAN STILL CALL ME VIA MY PRIVATE MOBILE NO 00226 78 84 21 34 ** ***
**
*MY REGARD TO YOUR FAMILY*
*MR AHMED HASSAN*
**
*N.B*
*I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL REQUIRED AND HOW COME ABOUT THIS FUND IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED AND HOPING YOU CAN BE TRUSTED*
*I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR REPLY.
THANKS AND HAVE A NICE DAY.
1. NAME IN FULL:................................
2. ADDRESS:.......................................
3. NATIONALITY:.................................
4. AGE:...............................................
5. SEX.................................................
6. OCCUPATION:.................................
7. MARITAL STATUS:.........................
8. PHONE............................................
9. FAX:...............................................*

Anti-fraud resources: