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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: "Internet Confirmation Committee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agentitalia@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03.01.14 -0700
Subject: Call For Enquiry/Information-.-

Call For Enquiry

From: Mr. Steven Cole

WIN FOR LIFE!
VINCI PER LA VITA

Reference #: W4L/REF/50
Batch: 002/41/7860
Winning/Ticket number..........IT900
Your e-mail address has won you the sum of EUR2,000,000.00 (Two million Euros)

You are expected to furnish us with the following details so that we can start clearance.


INFORMATION REQUIRED :

(a) Your full Name:
(b) Contact address:
(c) Your Telephone and fax numbers:
(d) Your Age:
(e) Your occupation:
(f) Your country of origin:

You are expected to keep your winning details to yourself in strict confidence for security reasons.

Endeavour to respond only to the details stated below:

Contact Person: Mr.Steven Cole (director)
Tel: +39 329 714 9674
EMAIL: agentitalia@yahoo.com.hk

Regards,

WIN FOR LIFE!
VINCI PER LA VITA

Anti-fraud resources: