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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.David Thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mellisbryan1@live.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:21:31 +0900
Subject: Be Informed

Good Day,

I am using this opportunity to thank you for your effort to our unfinished
transfer of fund into your account,You may not understand why this mail
came to you. But if you do not remember me, you might have received an
email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business
proposal which we never concluded. I want to inform you that I have
successfully transferred the Cheque out of the company to someone else who
was capable of assisting me in this great venture. Due to your effort,
sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed during the course of the
transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the
sum of $900,000.00. I have left an international certified bank draft for
you worth about $900,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world. My dear
friend, I will like you to contact my lawyer Mr. Ellis Bryan for the
collection of this international certified bank draft. I have authorized
him to release the international certified bank draft to you as soon as
you contact him regarding this issue.

COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICE CONTACT AGENT
CONTACT: Mr. Ellis Bryan
EMAIL: mellisbryan1@live.com
Tel: +234 8060570599

At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects I am
having at hand. Finally,I have forwarded instruction to the finance house
on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact them.

Best Regards,
Mr.David Thompson

Anti-fraud resources: