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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: "Mr.Joe Watson" <fileoffice80@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unembassy@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:09:47 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Attention;Sir/Madam,




Attention;Sir/Madam,
 
Please i want to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk this morning because the director of the western union here in Benin Republic said that they will divert your funds to the Government Treasury account just because that you can not pay for their service fee of your funds which is $48.00 only.
 
But i told them to wait untill i hear from you today so that i will know the reason why you rejected such amount of money $2.5m which will change your life just because of $48.00.I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me the reason why you should abandon your funds for $48.00. But if you don't need it then i can change your name to another person so that this Government will not claim this money.
 
You should also send the $48.00 today via western for urgent shipping of your funds package send the $48.00 today via western union below:
 
Receiver Name===========Ani Peter
Country ========= Benin Republic
City ============= Cotonou
Text Question ========= Urgent
Answer ============ Today
Amount ======== $48.00
Sender Name ====
Mtcn ====
 
I will wait to hear from you now or you can call me +229 99-88-29-65
Mr.Ibe Grace,
United States Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
E-MAIL:(unembassy@yahoo.fr)
Tel:- +229 99-88-29-65

Anti-fraud resources: