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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: "MADAM SUSAN MARTIN" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:48:37 -0100
Subject: Can You Help?

Dear Sir/Madam

My name is MADAM SUSAN MARTIN, the wife of MR THABO MARTIN, of ZIMBABWE . It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact details from, I received your contact details from the Trade and Exhibition Centre here in Harare Zimbabwe while I was making an intensive research for my investment in your country. I decided to contact you directly as I believe that you will have great consideration towards my situation. During the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President, ROBERT MUGABE who claims all the white owned farms in our country, he has ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers. My husband was one of the greatest and best farmers in the country and knowing that he did not support the president’s political ideology; the president’s supporters invaded my husband’s farm and burnt down everything. They shot him and as a result of the wounds sustained, he became sick and died after
less than 5 days. After his dea

Yours faithfully,

MADAM SUSAN MARTIN.

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