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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: paul smith <psmith2007@indiatimes.com>
Reply-To: psmith2008@indiatimes.com
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:16:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn:Friend



Attn:Friend,

I am Barr, Paul Smith. I have a client whose names was Mr. Bennett
Cole,Unfortunately he died On the 23rd of October 2005 along
side his immediate family without leaving a WILL.

The Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at
US$16.5M has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within the next 14 official working days.

I will appreciate if you can help me stand as the next of kin
him and have this money claim from them,

please if you are interested do get back to immediately with
your contact name address, phone and fax.

Regards,

Paul Smith.

Anti-fraud resources: