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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "EDWARD WHITE" <edwardwhite9@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 11:01:04 +0200
Subject: JOY AFTER SUFFERNESS


MY DEAREST FRIEND,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING YOU THAT I HAVE
FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS TO THE BANK IN FRANCE,WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND,
WHOM BASED ON AGREEMENT,RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL
INVOLVEMENT AND EFFORTS.PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO
ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE
EARLIER PROPOSED.

NEVERTHELESS, I CAN NOT FORGET YOU,ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS, THOUGH IT
DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT,BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.MEANWHILE I HAVE A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU. CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN
BENIN HIS NAME IS MR.ART HALL ON HIS EMAIL ADDRESS:(mrarthall6@yahoo.fr) I
HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM OF ONE
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN CHECK, WHICH I SET OUT FOR YOUR
COMPENSATION,PLEASE I WANT YOU TO ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEDAY, BUT
RIGHT NOW I AM TOO BUSY FOR SOMETIME,YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO FEEL FREE AND
GET IN TOUCHED WITH ART HALL, ALSO MY SECOND PARTNER DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.

YOUR INFORMATION FOR DELIVERY.
1, YOUR FULL NAME
2, YOUR PHONE NUMBER
3, YOUR ADDRESS

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,
BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER EDWARD WHITE

Anti-fraud resources: