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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: "Alex Ikoku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markedward0014@inmail24.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:05:33 -0800
Subject: Certified Bank Draft

Dear Friend,

How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am
using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our
unfinished transaction and transfer of your international bank draft
cheque to you from the bank, am sorry for presenting and using someone
else in your name to get this transaction successful. Due to logistic
reasons and your inconsistence to the other best known to you. Right now,
I want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the bank draft check
funds to someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this
great venture that have been over and successful.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at
the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $1,500,000.00 ( One Million five hundred
thousand United State Of America Dollars). I have authorized Mr. Mark
Edward where I deposited the money with to issue you international
certified bank draft, cashable cheque at your bank or anywhere as choice
felt. My dear friend I will like you to contact Mr. mark edward for the
collection of this international certified bank draft. His name and
contact address is as follows:

E-mail: Mr. Mark Edward
Email: markedward001143@rambler.ru
Tel: +2347042687154

Contact Mr. Mark Edward At the moment, am very busy here in the united
kingdom because of the investment projects which myself and my new
partner are having at hand In London Finally remember that I have
forwarded instructions to Mr. Mark Edward on your behalf to send the bank
draft cheque of $1,500,000.00 (One Million five hundred thousand United
State Of America Dollars) to you as soon as you contact him without delay.
Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith
as this is from the bottom of my heart. Thanks God bless you and your
family. Hope to hear from you soon as soon as you''ve getting my
compensation and please do not get angry because that is what I have for
now till I finish my project.

Best Regards.
Chief Alex Ikoku
Certified Bank Draft

Anti-fraud resources: