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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: "BBC ONLINE PROGRAMMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bbc.finance.desk@admin.in.th>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:56:21 +0800
Subject: ***ONLINE BANK DRAFT PAYMENT***

Greetings! We the BBC International Online Programmed Administrators discovered that your unclaimed winning bank draft which valued at the total sum of 750,000.00 GBP and it is with the courier company in charge of delivering of your bank draft to you.
 
Kindly Contact the BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT CLAIM OFFICE; Mr. Parkson Revers, Mobile: +447024088750 with your; Name:/Address:/Age:/Sex:/Phone:/Occupation:/Country:
Send all details to Email: bbc.finance.desk@admin.in.th
Sincerely,(Web internet Information Manager).
 

Anti-fraud resources: