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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: "Mrs. Inna Gudavadze" <David.Rivero@uab.cat>
Reply-To: ina.patark@qatar.io
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:59:25 +0100
Subject: Hope you are fine?

Dear friend,

Greetings in the name of the lord, I know that this email will reach you as a surprise, however but it was due to a matter of necessity I contacted you over a business proposal that will be of great benefit to you and myself. Let me formerly introduce myself, I am Mrs. Inna Gudavadze the wife of late Georgian billionaire (Mr. Badri Patarkatsishvili). I will send you more details upon receipt of your response. Please for security reasons, I strong advise that you write me through my private email:
Thanks for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Inna Gudavadze.
Private Email:ina.patark@qatar.io

Anti-fraud resources: