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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: "Ming Yang." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mingmyang52@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:00:12 +0100
Subject: Read.. Plz

ATTN:
An Iraqi made a fixed deposit of $24,500,000.00m usd in my bank branch and he died with his entire family leaving
behind no next of kin, am ready to share 50/50 with you if you choose to stand as my deceased client
next of kin.

Pls indicate by sending the following below to show your interest.

1.YOUR NAME
2.YOUR RESIDENT ADDRESS
3.YOUR OCCUPATION
4.YOUR PHONE NUMBER
5.DATE OF BIRTH
6.COUNTRY OF RESIDENT

Your response with the requested information should be

sent to reach me at
my personal email
address below: mngyang56@yahoo.com.hk

Yours Truly,
Mr. Ming Yang

Anti-fraud resources: