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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: power@ch.cablemas.com
Reply-To: ukadams_smith@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 06:40:24 -0600
Subject: Greetings from London




ADAMS SMITH,
Trust Fund Savings and Loans Ltd.,
2 Triton Square Regents Place,
London-NW1 3AN.

Greetings from London,

My name is ADAMS SMITH ; I am an accountant with the Trust Fund Savings
and Loans Ltd., United Kingdom. I am the Accounts officer to late Engr.
Hilton a National of your country, who was a contractor with the SHELL OIL
AND GAS COMPANY UNITED KINGDOM.

My client, his wife and their children died in the Air France with
registration number AF4590 when the plane crashed into the Hotelissimo
with other 109 passengers abroad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so
that the proceeds of this account valued at $12 million US dollars can be
paid to you and then you and me can share the money in the ratio: 40% to
me, 40% to you, 10% for any charity organization in your country, while
10% for unforeseen expenses.

All I require is your honest cooperation and loyalty in this transaction.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and me from any breach of the law of my country and also
the law of your country.

Expecting to hear from you as soon as you get this e-mail.

Best regards,
Adams Smith.


Anti-fraud resources: