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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: "George Potter" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 18:35:03 -0300
Subject: Dear Friend, kindly get back to me

Dear Friend.

My name is George Potter, I have urgent / confidential business preposition about sum of US$13M (Thirteen Million United States Dollars) which I will appreciate you to execute in the interest of trust / good business relationship with me, I know that it will not fail both of us and I will compensate you after the conclusion of the transaction.

If I see your sincere interest in your reply, then I will provide you with more details on the nature of this transaction I am talking about and we shall both share the funds at agreed percentages, so can I confide in you?

kindly get back to me for more details.

Thanks & best regards to your family.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr.George Potter.
Tel: +233-546 274 686.

Anti-fraud resources: