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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: PETER THOMSON <test@hlink.cn>
Reply-To: <ptomlaw@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 18:04:14 +0100
Subject: *FYI*

My name is Peter Thomson, Attorney at law. Sequel to your non response to my previous email, I am re-sending this to you again thus;
A deceased client of mine, that shares the same last name as yours,who died as the result of a heart-related condition on January 28th 2009.
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client (Four Million, Three Hundred thousand British Pounds) which is lodged in the bank.

Regards,
Peter Thomson

Anti-fraud resources: