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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: "Tony Coker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <courier.express99@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 09:18:57 -0700
Subject: Wilmer !!!

I  am an Account Manager with a bank here in Nigeria.I am soliciting your assistance
in repatriating the sum $9,500,000 left behind by a deceased customer.He died with his
entire family in the Port Harcourt Plane Crash in 2010, This money must be cleared from
the bank before it is declared unserviceable within the next 30days.
 
Every attempt to trace any member of his extended family proved abortive.I will give you
more information upon your response to this proposal.
 
You can call me on +234 704 296 4039 or Email:cktonycoker@aol.com
 
Regards,
Tony Coker.

Anti-fraud resources: