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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: "mrs. mary evis" <mrjela@alice.it>
Reply-To: unitedbankforafrica235@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 00:10:11 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Payment Notice

My Dear,
I obtained your contact through the secret database of foreigners who are
owed vast sums of money by the Government, the Central Bank and by individual
Banks, including institutions.I have put in place a system to pay you this
money sum of $5.5Million immediately you contact us with your full receiving
information such as your Name, Address, Telephone Number, A copy of your ID
card for more details(unitedbankforafrica235@yahoo.co.uk) Call us on
+22968832385. Mrs. Mary Evis

Anti-fraud resources: