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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: Special John EDWARD <INFO@post.gov>
Reply-To: F.B.I-AFRICA@usa.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:29:44 +0400
Subject: Ref: FBI/USA/NGWAUSGOVUS

Ref: FBI/USA/NGWAUSGOVUS

Attn: Beneficiary ,

I am John Edward Special Agent FBI Satellite Unit in West Africa Nigeria.

I am in control of your payment as been authorized by the United States of America, Asia, European Gulf Debt Reconciliation Units regarding all US citizens and foreigners in scam victim cases which attached to your e-mail address and I hereby urge you to re-confirm the following information below to enable me process your compensation payment in an ATM Visa Gold Card whereby you can withdraw a maximum of $5,000.00 USD daily from any ATM Machine in any parts of the World and the currency you deem fit. The sum of US$2,500,000.00 has been awarded and programmed in an ATM Visa Gold Card for you and I await your response for dispatching your ATM Visa Gold Card which is right here on my desk

1. Your First name | Middle name | Surname
2. Delivery Address
3. Telephone | Cell phone
4. Age
5. Occupation | Position
6. Identification.

Truly,

John Edward
Special Agent FBI
Nigeria Satellite Unit
United States of America
Satellite Tel/Fax: 1 (484) 723-7696


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