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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: "Dr. James Campbell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drjcampbell11@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:26:29 -0400
Subject: OFFICIALLY TO YOU

Hello,

I am Dr. James Campbell, Director of Project, South Africa department of minerals and energy ExxonMobil company. (http://www.exxonmobil.com).
I have a private brief to re-profile funds amounting to $28.5Million United States Dollars.
This amount $28.5Million represents a balance of the total contract value executed
on behalf of our department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials
over-invoiced deliberately. Should you be willing to assist me in the transaction
with a solution to a money transfer.
Your share of the sum will be 30% of the $28.5million, 70% will be for the rest of us.
To enable us commence,
I will need your full names, personal telephone/fax number and your mailing address.
Please send your response to my E-mail: drjcampbell11@gmail.com
I await your immediate response.
Best Regards,
Dr. J. Campbell

Anti-fraud resources: