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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: "Contact Mr. Benard Mand immediately" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benmorisinfo1@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:05:36 -0700
Subject: Contact Mr. Benard Mand immediately

YOU HAVE WON ON THE COMPUTER BALLOT,
THE SUM OF US$ 3 million us dollars
PLEASE CONTACT
MR.BENARD MAND
YOUR CLAIMS AGENT.
FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE FUND RELEASE
Call him on phone +27 780899251 SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP BID LOTTERY AWARD.
PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
Today your e-mail id was selected through the computer ballot system, as a winner of SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY.
You have to contact your claim agent for your payment process and include your personal information for smooth transaction.
Claim Agent: Mr. Benard Mand
Tel/: +27 780899251
For verification purpose, forward to him your claim details below;
(1) Your Tel(Mobile):
(2) Your Nationality/Country:
{3} Your Full Names:
{4} Your Occupation
{5} Your Age.
Ref No.06 08 010 19 30 42
Batch number: 13/26/DC36.
Security code: 676
Amount Won: US $3,000,000.00 (Three million United States Dollars)
You have to contact him not later than three working days.
Congratulations once again.
Regards,
Dr. Smith White

Anti-fraud resources: