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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: "James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markjames1930@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:43:20 +0100
Subject: Mr.Mark C. James.

This is an official notification of funds deposited in your name.We arrange for the safekeeping of special and valuable packages and baggage in trust for reputable clients that are honest and trustworthy.
A benefactor whose identity can not be disclosed because of the NonCircumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement that was signed with the said benefactor when the funds were being deposited, made you the beneficiary of a package containing some amount of money.The Non Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement signed with the benefactor mandates us to fully divulge and disclose the benefactor's identity 18 months after you, the beneficiary,has received the funds.
The funds totals US$7.5M Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and we confirm that these funds are fully free of any liens,or encumbrances and are clean, clear and non-criminal origin and are available in the form of CASH.You are hereby advised to reconfirm your Full Contact Information for verification with information contained in our database in the format stated below.
After verifying the details with the information we have in our database,you will be contacted to personally claim the funds in the Courier Firm where its being kept with the Consignment Deposit Information (C.D.I) that will empower you to do so.This Consignment Deposit Information (C.D.I) is what is needed to claim the funds and will only be sent to you after all your information has been verified and confirmed to be true.The information should therefore be sent in the manner stated below so as to ensure that no mistake is made.
Your full name:
Your Receiving address:
Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year:
Direct Telephone/Mobile Number:
Fax Number:
Your Occupation.
Sex.
 
Complete the above and send back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you
 
Mr.Mark C. James.

Anti-fraud resources: