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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: "HANNIBAL GADAFFI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hannibalgaddafi1@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:28:04 +0530
Subject: LETTER OF URGENT ASSISTANCE

DEAR SIR.../MADAM.
COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY. I KINDLY WANT TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE, MY NAME ARE HANNIBAL GADDAFI JNR. A CITIZEN OF LIBYA. PRESENTLY I AM IN WESTERN PART OF
AFRICA MAKING ARRANGEMENT TO CROSS INTO INDIA. I AM. PRESENTLY SEEKING FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY FELLOW TO ASSIST ME OF MY FATHERS" MONEY WHICH I TRANSFERED VIA UNITED NATIONS MILLITARY ATTACHEE TO MY FATHER.
THE SAID AMOUNT IS FIFTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS($55M).
I HAVE DONE A REASONABLE RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT IT IS NOT EASY FOR A FOREINER TO HAVE AN ACCOUNT FOR SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT, SO I WOULD LIKE YOU AS A CITIZEN OF INDIA TO ASSIT ME BY TRANSFERING THIS MONEY INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT, AND TWENTY(20%) PERCENT WILL BE OFFERED TO YOU FOR THE ASSISTACE AND SAFE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY. THIS MATTER IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE AND I WILL LIKE TO FINISH THIS TRANSACTION IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS SO THAT I CAN GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU BECAUSE I FEEL THAT YOU ARE WELL SETTLED AND HAVE A COMPANY OF YOUR OWN.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTRESTED DO CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.FOR PROPER VERIFICATION, YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON MY PERSONAL EMAIL ID.... hannibalgaddafi1@hotmail.co.uk
+22997689290.
PLEASE SEND YOUR PERSON INFORMATION LIKE..
1.YOUR NAME..
2.CONTACT NUMBER..
3.AGE AND SEX...
4.YOUR BANK DETAILS..
5. COUNTRY/STATE..
6.YOUR OCCUPATION...
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.
THANKS,
HANNIBAL GADDAFI JNR.

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