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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: omar lorenzo <lorenzoomar@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <magtrust2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:25:36 -0700
Subject: Help



I'm sorry for this odd request because it might get to you too urgent but it's because of the situation of things right now.

I'm stuck in London,England with my family right now, we are here on a short vacation then I was robbed, worse of it is that bags, cash, cards with my cell phone was stolen at GUN POINT, it was such a crazy experience for us and we need help flying back home, the authorities are not being 100% supportive but the good thing is we still have our passports and return tickets but currently having troubles paying off the hotel bills and also getting a cab to take us to the airport.

All we need is $1,850.00 but anything you can spare right now will be appreciated and I promise to refund it to you as soon as I arrive back home safely.. You have my word!!

Thanks,
Omar

Anti-fraud resources: