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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: "Free Internet Lotto Inc."<info@freelotto.com>
Reply-To: freeprizedept2013@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:49:18 +0000
Subject: Your E-mail Address Has won $2MILLION FREELOTTO Jackpot.....Congratulations
!!!

Your email address attached to the ticket number: 54-20-17-52-34-30 that
draw the lucky winning number,which consequently won the Daily new year
Jackpot in the first category,in four parts.You have been approved for a
payment of $2M in cash credited to file reference number:
TFR/9900034943/JPT.
To file for your claim, please contact your fiduciary agent immediately via
the email below: Mr. Williams Ford Email:freeprize@rocketmail.com Tel:#
+447062099230 Provide the following to process your winnings.
1.Name in full.
2.Address.
3.Sex.
4.Phone No.

Anti-fraud resources: