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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: "MARIA GRACE" <maria@cent.cz>
Reply-To: mariagrace102@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 12:42:29 -0000
Subject: Please Read(Urgent Notice)

Hello

I have tried so many times today to reach you and i hope you have received
this email?
Mrs.Alice Gabriel has instructed in a note she sent to me through her
doctor who confirmed her dead at the hospital to contact you quickly
regarding the Money which she deposited in a safe keep with a security
company in Turkey.
The total money in question is 6.5 million dollars
Please reach me as soon as you get this email with your direct telephone
number so I can brief you on the situation at hand.

Regards,
Mrs.Maria Grace

Anti-fraud resources: