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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: "Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mail--abnamro@europe.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:05:15 -0000
Subject: Attention: Treat as urgent

Attention:
 
We are authorized and mandated to contact you by Allen and Violet Large . If you dont know Allen and Violet Large,they are the couple who won a  Lottery of $11.3 million(11,225,273) in July and have voluntarily decided to donate randomly via email selection the sum of $500,000.00 USD to you as part of humanity and Charity Project to improve the lot of 10 lucky individuals all over the world.
 
If you have received this email then you are one of the lucky recipients and all you have to do is get back with us so that we can send your details you on how you earn your payout.This is not a joke, The Couples are currently been interviewed on the media, being that we have spent our time in donating all most this money to people suffering more than us, we are old, money can't keep us alive but the happiness as we are happyly married and have lived till this time,there is no question about that.
 
For better understanding you can verify this by visiting the web pages below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40009180/ns/us_news-giving/t/retired-couple-gives-away-million-lottery-win/
 
 
On behalf of Allen and Violet Large, we say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! to you.
 
N:B: If this email is not responded to within 2 working weeks, your nomination will be cancealled,and you shall be replaced immediately.
 
Good luck,
 
Dr John Millward
Manger
Diplomats Prudent-Holdings Ltd
London
Tel: (+44) 703 590 7701
Fax: (+44) 700 592 1645
 
For: The "Allen and Violet Large"

Anti-fraud resources: