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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: ''Steven Mark '' <info20@centerpoint725.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <stevemark696@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:56:41 +0100
Subject: Reply Asap

Hello

I am inspired to send you this email by the huge opportunity that it will be of mutual benefit to us.My late client a national of Israel a Man who used to work with Shell before his untimely death few years ago and inquiries to several embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives proved abortive.I decide to trace his relatives over the Internet . Still no success.

Hence,this contact to you.I contacted you only to assist in repatriating the sum involved otherwise the estate he left behind will be declared unserviceable by the bank which just issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account frozen.I now use this medium to seek your consent so that the proceeds can be paid to you since I have all the necessary legal documents to back up our claim.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us redeem the funds.

Kindly reply back if this proposal satisfies your interest.

Steven Mark.

Anti-fraud resources: