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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: "Abacha Family" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ma7766731@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 02:07:12 +0100
Subject: My Family's Estate

From: Mohammed Abacha

Dear ,

In a drive to ensure the safety of family Funds for safe keeping and investment, I wish to inform you that all necessary modalities have been concluded and the funds have left to Europe last week by Express Cargo Flight (Diplomatic Delivery Agency). Note carefully the content of the crates is money \"U.S Dollar $14 Million Cash\" but I did not disclose it to the Courier Services as Money, rather I informed them that the crates contains Vital \"DOCUMENTS AND EXPENSIVE AFRICA ART WORK\" belonging to a family friend and also business partner (that's you).
On no account should you disclose the content of the crate (Two Trunk Box) with the Diplomatic Courier Services for fear of betrayal. So do not allow them to know that the content is money you have to bear in mind my family situation.

Please note that the deposit papers are ready and will be forwarded in due course. Please send me your contact address and also full name and phone number immediately through my email address.

Best Regards.

Yours faithfully,

Mohammed Abacha.

Anti-fraud resources: