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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: "Alfonso Gallardo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alfonsogallard@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2012 18:29:12 +0200
Subject: We need to talk

Dear Friend,
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise as we have never
met before, but need not to worry as I am contacting you independently
of my investigation and no one is informed of this communication. I need
your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of $11.3million
immediately to your private account.The money has been here in our Bank
lying dormant for years now without anybody coming for the claim of it.
I want to release the money to you as the relative to our deceased
customer (the account owner) who died a long with her supposed NEXT OF
KIN since 31 January 2000. The Banking laws here does not allow such
money to stay more than 13 years,because the money will be recalled to
the Bank treasury account as unclaimed fund.
By indicating your interest I will send you the full details on how the
business will be executed.
Please respond urgently and delete if you are not interested.
Email:alfonsogallard@aol.com
Regards,
Mr.Alfonso Gallardo

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