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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: "autocollatina@alice.it" <autocollatina@alice.it>
Reply-To: wmoneytransfer914@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 15:27:29 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Your $8.5M

This is very urgent my dear contact western union for your funds deposited in
W/U and they have already sent you your first payment of $5000.00 now forward
them your information to complete the transfer Noted that the Only Fee Request
from You Is for Reactivate of your Transfer Files Sum Of $105 Only, No More Fee
again after that.

Contact:Mr.JOHN WEST
Western Union DIRECTOR GENERAL (Benin rep)
EMAIL: (westernnuunion@xd.ae)
PHONE NO+229-99336947

Be in contact with them now for immediate attention over your first transfer.
Barri Philip Michael

Anti-fraud resources: