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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: "Mike Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikwatson2000@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:35:26 -0800
Subject: Re: Awaiting Your Reply.

HELLO,
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
 
I AM A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT  IN COTONOU BENIN. I HOPE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
 
I HAVE SOME MONEY RUNNING INTO MILLIONS OF POUNDS DEPOSITED IN OUR COMPANY'S  ACCOUNTS BY SOME INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS FROM AFRICA FOR SAFE CUSTODY.
 
THIS MONEY IS IN SECRET ACCOUNTS IN LONDON, CAYMAN ISLAND AND LUXEMBURG.
 
WE WANT TO INVEST IT IN AMERICA AND THROUGH AMERICA CONTACT  WHERE WE FEEL THE MONEY WILL BE SAFE AND SECURED.
 
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WE CAN INVEST A MINIMIUM OF £2.5 MILLION  STARTING FROM 2010. IF YOU HAVE, LET US KNOW THE NATURE OF THE BUSINES AND THE RATE OF RETURN  ON THE INVESTMENT FOR THE FIRST THREE YEAR.
 
PLEASE THIS IS NOT A SCAM.
 
I AWAIT YOUR REPLY.
 
MIKE WATSON
MIKE WATSON CONSULTANCY SARL
80 GREEN ROAD
COTONOU BENIN

Anti-fraud resources: