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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: "JOHNSON MIKE" <johnsonmike4@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:42:29 +0200
Subject: CONTACT STATE INHERITANCE COMMITTEE


Dear Friend

This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 3774 9856 7847 9006
worth Three Million Dollars ($3Million usd) has been credited in your favor
in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our
inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2008. Your personal
identification is ATM- 7998. Contact the verification officer DR UMARU:(
inheritanceverification@live.fr) with the following for proper verification
and claim processing:

Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................

NOTE:
You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means of
Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or
International Passport for proper verification and authentication.

Best Regards
Adame Mike

Anti-fraud resources: