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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: "Walter Farkas" <walterfar11@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 14:41:26 +0200
Subject: It is me,YOUR PARTNER,


It is me,YOUR PARTNER,

THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SWISS BANK IN ZURICH.

I am very much happy to have completed that business and have
received my total sum of US$20,000,000.00.


Because of all you have done for me in the past,i want you to enjoy this
money with me.

Now, I want you to contact my secretary in Republique du Benin,
his name is Mr. Israel Colette His E-mail is iscolett@yahoo.it
ask him to send you the total sum of $1,000,000.00
which i kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me in this matter.

Send him the following information so that he will be sure that you
are the owner of the cheque:

Your Full Name:
Your address:
Your country:
Your occupation:
Your age:
Your Phone number:

I have forwarded instruction to my Secretary and he will be waiting
for your mail with information on this.

Please do not bother to contact me because i will be out of reach for
about a year.

I thank you for everything and God bless you.

Regards,
PD DR Erich Farkas,

Anti-fraud resources: