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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: "Professor Dr. Erich" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terrywilliamsek1@insing.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:09:39 +0100
Subject: IT'S HAPPY NEWS FOR YOU AND I

Hi,
 
I am happy to inform you that i have completed the transaction and I have finally received my 20m USD.
 
Because of all you have done for me in the past, I want you to enjoy this me.
 
Please contact my Secretary to get your share; He is;
Mr. Terry Ekwe, from Great Britain but he is currently at my office in Nigeria where i am currently building an oil company for exportation of crude.
His email address is: terrywilliamsek1@insing.com .
 
His office is located at Abuja Nigeria
 
Please make sure you send him the following information complete;
 
 
Your Full Name:
Your address:
Your country:
Your occupation:
Your age:
Your Phone number:
 
 
I have forwarded instruction to him and he will be waiting for your mail with the above information for reconfirmation.
 
I have traveled to invest and I will not be reachable both by email and phone for a period of one year.
 
I do not know how you will feel about this but please do not reject this gift because it is from my heart and I want you to share this joy with me.
 
I cant tell how much happy that I am but God will never stop Rewarding you.
 
Note once more that I will not be reachable for about one year and also, you will be endangering my life and freedom if you call my phone or send me emails about this because my contacts are correctly under the watch eyes of the Swiss police because they want to know why I have taken one year leave and if they find out that i made this transfer, I will be arrested and prosecuted.
 
I meant no harm by giving you this compensation and I expect you to accept it peacefully without trying to harm me or otherwise so try and think good of me and pray for me too.
 
 
Regards,
Prof. Dr. Walter Farkas

Anti-fraud resources: