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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: "shigeo katsu" <shigeokatsu@live.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:57:25 -0200 (GMT+2)
Subject: RESPONSE NEEDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Dearest Friend,

Compliment of the day to you, although you may be skeptical receiving this
email as we have not met before,I am Mr.Shigeo Katsu I work with HangSeng
Bank
Ltd. I have a business proposition involving the sum of $24,500,000.00usd in
my bank which I know we will be of mutual benefit to both of us, and I
believe we can handle together, once we have a common understanding and
mutual cooperation in the execution of the modalities. Should you be
interested, please forward the following to me:

1.Full names,
2.Occupation,
3.Private phone number,
4.Current residential address.

Via this email address: shigeokatsu@live.com
SHIGEO KATSU

Anti-fraud resources: