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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: "Abu Abu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abu0147@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:55:56 +0200
Subject: Attention:

Attention: I write in respect of the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting held at the Guildhall in the City of London. Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations gather in London for a two-day meeting to map out rules to prevent a repeat of the crisis and scam perpetrator that brought the financial system to the brink of collapse. According to Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, we have resolved to compensate 20 scam Victims funds beneficiaries with the sum of US$10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only. And my office has been authorized to release the payment immediately i receive payment application from any of the scam Victims funds beneficiaries. You only need to pay for application form then send your account details and the money will be sent to you account that same day..... I am waiting for your response now on this email only: abu0147@gmail.com Yours Sincerely, Abu Abu +2348079731210 Nigerian Finance Minister Email: abu0147@gmail.com

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