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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: "Mark Thompson Hawkins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mhawkins93@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 08:00:06 -0000
Subject: Financial Instrument available for lease(Reply Asap)

Hello,
May the good Lord grant you,your heart desires
this year. My names are Mark Thompson Hawkins.I have an interesting investment
offer to make to you.Please get back to me to enable me give you the full text of the proposal and for further details.
Thanks and God bless.
Yours,
Mark Thompson Hawkins

Anti-fraud resources: