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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: "CONGRATULATIONS" <hjdjtswwsd@att.net>
Reply-To: <euromillions48@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:40:55 +0200
Subject: EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY AWARD


Dear, Winner

You are privileged to the biggest prize pools and lottery jackpots and congratulations to you once again as you open the attached file for the winning details

With almost Regards

Mr. Howard Grill

Lottery Coordinator
This email may be confidential. Any distribution, use or copying of this email or the information it contains by other than an intended recipient is unauthorized. If you received this email in error, please advise me (by return email or otherwise) immediately.

Ce courriel est confidentiel. Toute diffusion, utilisation ou copie de ce message ou des renseignements qu'il contient par une personne autre que les destinataires désignés est interdite. Si vous recevez ce courriel par erreur, veuillez m'en aviser immédiatement, par retour de courriel ou par un autre moyen.

Este mensaje es confidencial. Cualquier distribución, uso o copia del mensaje o de la información en el contenido por otras personas distintas de los destinatarios esta prohibida. Si usted recibe este mensaje por error, por favor comuníquemelo inmediatamente mediante reenvío del mensaje o por otro medio.


Anti-fraud resources: