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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: "MRS. MARY OKASIA" <mrsmary.k13@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ed_phillips6@mail.ru>
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 08:40:49 +0000
Subject: MY DEAREST FRIEND,



MY DEAREST FRIEND,

GOOD DAY,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS; I AM INFORMING YOU THAT I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE FUNDS OUT TO A BANK IN ITALY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A CHINA FRIEND, WHOM BASED ON AGREEMENT RECEIVED 35% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND EFFORTS.

PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO JAPAN, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED. NEVERTHELESS, I CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS, THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEANWHILE I HAVE A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU.

I NEED YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC HIS NAME IS MR.EDMUND PHILLIPS HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS: ed_phillips6@mail.ru EMAIL OR CALL HIM ON HIS DIRECT MOBILE NUMBER 0022998434633. I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO SEND YOU THE SUM OF $2.500,000.00. TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS CHEQUE WHICH I SET OUT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION, PLEASE ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET ONE DAY, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO LIE LOW FOR SOME TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MR.EDMUND PHILLIPS. RE-CONFIRM BELOW INFORMATION TO HIM TO ENABLE HIM SEND THE DRAFT TO YOU.

1, YOUR FULL NAME.
2, YOUR DIRECT CELL PHONE NUMBER.
3, YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.

PLEASE MY FRIEND ENDEAVOR TO INFORM ME AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THE $2.500,000.00. TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.ENJOY THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOUR AND INVEST IT WISELY FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN. TRUST IN GOD AND ALL WILL BE WELL WITH YOU.

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,
DR. JAMES FAGBEMY.

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