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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: central bank <gianfranco778@alice.it>
Reply-To: <victorsamuel894@yahoo.in>
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 11:55:31 +0100
Subject:

Dear Sir,
$1.2M is ready as compensation to you from Africa.
Kindly send address or bank details for receiving funds or atm
card to you through fedral ministry of finance/central bank of Cotonou .
United nation office here offered you this compensation due to
lost of life by one of your Country man who died accidentally in Africa
but no his family member was traced till now.Regards.Dr.Frank Obeluo.
Director fedral minstry of financeBenin Republic.
Direct number:+229-98-839090.

Anti-fraud resources: