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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: "Mallam Mustapha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmustapha31@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 02:08:56 -0000
Subject: I await your urgent response.

Hello,

Due to the death of my Father, I have been thrown into a state of hopelessness by the present administration.I have lost confidence with anybody within my country.
I got your contacts through personal research, and had to reach you through this medium.
I will give you more details when you reply. Due to security network placed on my daily affairs I cant visit the embassy so that is why I have contacted you. My Father deposited $12.6million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is witheld for now till we communicate.
I will be happy if you can receive this funds and keep it safe. I will need your telephone/mobile numbers so that we can
commence communication.I await your urgent response.
Yours truly,
Mustapha

Anti-fraud resources: