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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 Martin," <insudanp_4444444444444444444444@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: winneffflott@live.com
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 07:04:06 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your Email Address Has Won You GBP3.2m

$B?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9$r$*CN$i$;$7$^$9?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9!'(B insudanp_4444444444444444444444@yahoo.co.jp

We happily announce to you the draw of the UK-Lotto Sweepstake Lottery International programs held in Bangkok-Thailand number 5368/02 we drew the lucky numbers:07-12-23-26-29-44 which subsequently won you the lottery in the first been approved to claim a total sum of2.3m

- Mrs. Mary Martin,


Anti-fraud resources: