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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: "Chris Hooks" <chrishooks02@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:20:50 +0200
Subject: THIS IS FOR YOUR KINDNESS.


*Hello my good friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I have tried
to contact you previously on this email but it returned. But i am compelled
to try a last time, hoping it will get to you this time. *
**
*I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar
business has been concluded with the assistance of another partner from
Chile who financed the transaction to a logical conclusion. At the moment, i
have just arrived in India for some business negotiations. It is
unfortunate that we could not conclude the transaction together as planned.
Yet i did not forget your kind efforts.

In appreciation of your efforts, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you
showed during the course of the transaction, i deposited a certified Bank
Draft for you, which is worth $1,200, 000.00 and cashable anywhere in the
world. For its safety, i have deposited it with UTC COURIER AND DIPLOMATIC
COMPANY for immediate delivery to you. You are required to contact the
courier company for its immediate delivery with the following information
below: *
**
*YOUR FULL NAMES*
*YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS*
*YOUR PHONE NUMBER/ MOBILE*
*YOUR OCCUPATION*
*YOUR AGE*
**
*These information are are required by the courier company to ensure that
they do not deliver it to a wrong person. The contact of the courier company
is stated below:*
**
*
Contact person: Rev George Uka.
UTC Courier And Diplomatic Company
Cotonou, Benin Republic,
Tel: +229-938 998 15.
Email addresses:
**utccourier1@sify.com*<http://us.f373.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=utccourier1@sify.com>,
*utccourier11@sify.com*<http://us.f373.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=utccourier11@sify.com>
*
As soon as you contact them, they will deliver your draft to you within a
few days.*
*
Thanks and God bless you and your family. You are a friend indeed.

Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft.

Engr. Chris Hooks.

*

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