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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: "Miss. Linda Williams" <miss.lindawilliams011@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:16:04 +0000
Subject: Hello my dear how are you today?

Hello dear,

How are you today, I hope that you are good. It is with great pleasure
that i am contacting you, so that we can start having communication
with each other. Please, i wish you will have the desire as i do so
that we can get to know each other better and see what happens in
future.You must be surprised receiving a message from an unknown
person, do not worry that's just the beginning of friendship. To love
is to live we will get along well as life generally evovles in
relationship; friendliness.

By this introduction, i would be needing your help, & guidiance in an
investment in your country, & also a relationship. I will be happy to
give you details about myself.

I will be waiting to hear from you, as i wish you all the best for the
day. God Bless.

Your Lovely
Miss. Linda.

Anti-fraud resources: