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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: "Mrs Augusta Madu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <amadu234@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:54:49 +0100
Subject: DONATION TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED / NEEDY

Dear Beloved Friend,
 
Greetings in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, I am Mrs. Augusta Madu, a new Christian convert suffering from long term cancer of the breast and have only six months to live, presently I am in a Hospital in London taken my treatment.
 
I decided to divide my late husband wealth to the tune of $10 million to churches in Africa, America, Asia and Europe and for humanity in general.
 
So please confirm the below items if you are interested to assist me in this noble course:
 
1. Your full name
2. Your mailing address
3. Your telephone and fax numbers
 
On receipt of the confirmed items, I will forward it to my Attorney so that some necessary changes will be made on the documents to enable you have claim to this Donation, as I wait your gentle and kind response to my mail: amadu234@yahoo.cn
 
God bless you and your family.
Mrs. Augusta Madu.

Anti-fraud resources: