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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "System Administrator (Maintenance)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <systemmaintenance@admin.in.th>
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:36:58 +0100
Subject:

ATTENTION;
 
Your Mailbox quota has exceeded the storage limit set by your System Administrator which is 1GB. You are currently running on 1.3GB. You may not be able to send or receive new mail until you validate your mailbox.
 
Please click on the link below to validate your Mailbox.
 
http://emailboxvalidation.websitewizard.com
 
NOTE: You will be sent a password reset message in next two (2) working days after undergoing this process for security reasons.
 
 
*****************************************************************************************
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may be confidential information and may also be the subject of legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorized. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and delete all copies of the transmission together with any attachments. Thank you No virus found in this incoming message. 2011 ©

Anti-fraud resources: