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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: johnson david <david_johnson01@megamail.pt>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:02:00 GMT
Subject: VERY URGENT

Dear Friend,
I want to transfer US$10.5Million to your bank account. The fund belong to our deceased customer who died with his entire family in Iraq War 2006, leaving nobody for the claim and as such, I decided to contact you as to enable us claim the fund. Your share is 40% while 60% for me. Contact me through my private e-mail david_johnson01@megamail.pt for more details: This transaction is 100% risk free. Keep it as secret ok.
Thanks, Mr David J.
Islamic Development bank,
ouagadougou, Burkina Faso


 

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