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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ansmatt@live.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:44:48 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:annmmatt@yahoo.com.co



- ATTN:Sir/Madam,It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise.This is because we have not met before but I am inspired tosending you this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that willbe of mutual benefit to the two of us.However, I am barrister ANIS MATT, Attorney to the late Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man inUK, who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 11th of November,1997.My client,his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos ExpressRoad. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, Idecided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you toassist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client,Ican easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are theonly surviving relation of my client.Otherwise the Estate he leftbehind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27 million U.S dollars(twenty sevenmillion U.S.America Dollars).Conseqently,The bank issued me a notice toprovide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten of ficial working days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over several years now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.S dollars can be paid to youraccount and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% toyou,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through and forward the following informations to me 1,Your Name 2,House Address3,Your Phone/Fax Number4,Your Age and Gender5,Your occupation I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Send your reply to my alternative email address ans2matt@yahoo.com.co. Yours Faithfully,Barrister ANIS MATT(Esq)."


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