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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: "Mr Benson Hockman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terrybent@webmail.md>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2013 14:01:37 -0500
Subject: Thank You For Your Help

Greetings,

I contacted you some time ago in respect to the funds transfer of my deceased client . I want to sincerely thank you for your help initially although you backed out thinking that the funds transfer was illegal and a scam.

Well, everything was legal and legit and went well through the assistance of a Briton, the funds transfer was a success.

I am on vacation now with my family in United Kingdom. In a way to appreciate your kind gesture, I have dropped a cashier cheque of Seven Hundred Thousand USD ( $700,000) in your name instructing my personal accountant Mr.Terry Bentley to pay the sum to you. This is my little way of saying thank you for your initial help.

You are to contact him (Mr.Terry Bentley) or +234-70-143-20871

Regards,
Benson Hockman.

Anti-fraud resources: