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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: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mscarmanlapointe_un@live.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:00:02 -0400
Subject: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight

Attn: Beneficiary,
 
This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from London, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia,Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for  the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.
 
Sincerely,you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working incollaboration with One Mr.Robert Johnson from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account.
 
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight.
E-mail: mscarmanlapointe_un@live.com

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