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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: "Mark Dube" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markdubesa@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:05:32 +0100
Subject: Looking forward to your prompt response

From Mr. Mark Dube
Credit Accounting Officer,
Treasury Department Nedbank,
South Africa.
 
Hello dear,
 
I am Mr. Mark Dube, Credit Accounting officer of Nedbank South Africa. I am contacting you for a possible business transfer worth US$ 7,450,000.00 (Seven Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars), which will be of mutual benefit for both of us. Please this letter contains some confidential materials and should be deleted from your mail box indicating that you are not interested.                
 
However, it will be in my interest to finish this transaction with you hoping that you will not cheat or blackmail me at the conclusion of this goal because I have planned it for long. If you can be a collaborator to this transaction, please indicate your positive interest immediately for us to proceed. 
 
Please remember this is absolutely confidential because my Bank does not know about it. Your contact phone numbers will be necessary for this effect. Thank you for your time and attention. 
 
Awaiting your urgent reply
Thanks and regards,
 
Mark Dube.

Anti-fraud resources: