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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: "Oliver Powell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oliverpowell@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 17:05:48 -0700
Subject: For Your Information=

This is for your attention,

I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with you
because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands. However, I have
already sent you this same letter one month ago, but I am not sure if it
did get to you since I have not heard from you, hence I am constrain to
reach you through the Internet which has been abused over the years. I
wish to notify you again that you were listed as an Heir to the total sum
of (Four million Six hundred thousand British Pounds) in the codicil and
last testament of the deceased (names now withheld since this is our
second letter to you). I contacted you because you bear the surname
identity and therefore can present you as the Heir to the inheritance
funds.

I therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity as all the legal papers will be processed
in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you
kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance with your full names, your
current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address,your present
occupation to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate
division for the release of this sum of money. Please indicate your
interest immediately for us to proceed.

I shall feed you with full details of this transaction upon receipt of
your reply towards this proposal.

Sincerely,
Barr.Oliver Powell

Anti-fraud resources: