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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: "Anderson Smith" <anderson39@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: andersonsmith81@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:41:43 -0300
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

Good day,

Your contact was given to me by my friend; i decided to apply through this
medium for your co-operation and to use this opportunity as a spring board to
invest, and to do joint business in your country.

I am a consultant in Ghana, representing a former Minister from Ivory Coast,
we are interested to invest in your country, and our interest is in investment
with potentials for rapid growth in long terms. We are interested in placing
$15.5 million dollars in your company, if your country's by laws allows for
foreign investment.

Please treat as priority and give me a feed back.

Sincerely yours,

Anderson Smith


Anti-fraud resources: