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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: "MR RICHARD EZE" <info.confidental@orange.fr>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:20:02 -0700
Subject: *****SPAM***** PAYMENT-CODE-(ATM411)


Spam detection software, running on the system "spam1.pem.inap.sea.dotster.net", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.

Content preview: ATM INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
OF OPERATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY OCEANIC BANK (PLC ) OF NIGERIA ATTENTION
HONORABLE BENEFICIARY THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED
YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED
YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU
IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT. [...]

Content analysis details: (9.8 points, 7.0 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
0.1 RDNS_NONE Delivered to trusted network by a host with no rDNS
1.2 US_DOLLARS_3 BODY: Mentions millions of $ ($NN,NNN,NNN.NN)
0.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML included in message
1.7 MIME_HTML_ONLY BODY: Message only has text/html MIME parts
0.0 FORGED_OUTLOOK_TAGS Outlook can't send HTML in this format
0.7 MSOE_MID_WRONG_CASE MSOE_MID_WRONG_CASE
0.0 FORGED_OUTLOOK_HTML Outlook can't send HTML message only
1.9 UPPERCASE_75_100 message body is 75-100% uppercase
4.2 FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK Forged mail pretending to be from MS Outlook

The original message was not completely plain text, and may be unsafe to
open with some email clients; in particular, it may contain a virus,
or confirm that your address can receive spam. If you wish to view
it, it may be safer to save it to a file and open it with an editor.


Anti-fraud resources: