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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: "Pacific Island" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:41:05 -0300
Subject: PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPENSATION AND FORGIVE ME.

Dear Friend,
 
 
 
Its been quite long since we heard from each other. Betrayal they say is the
wilful slaughter of hope. I have betrayed you my friend from the moment you
responded to that email I sent to you some time ago. From that moment you
accepted that lotto wining notice and then you sent me your name, address
phone and account details.
 
 
 
 
From that moment I choose to betray you when you choose to trust me. I
diverted the wining to myself. I am so sorry that you have lost a lot of money
to claim this prize.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I am in a poor state of health now and i may have died from cancer before my
Son send you this letter, but please accept the Seven hundred and sixty
thousand  dollars compensation as an atonement for my sin against you. Please
contact my legal adviser Barr.Charles based in Malaysia because I have given
him instructions to deliver this money to you as soon as possible.
 
 
 
You can contact my legal adviser Barr.Charles his email [
raymanchambers@wwjd.ru ]  just tell him that you are contacting him under
instruction from Code: SPPFE442 he will honour my WILL and pay you within
48hours. Forgive me this is all I ask for. Please send him your I.D, phone and
address for verification and payment processing. My spirit will be uplifted
once you get this compensation.
 
 
Regards
SPPFE442

Anti-fraud resources: