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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. Phillip George" <aleraga@alice.it>
Reply-To: w.union4@outlook.com
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2014 14:35:57 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD NEWS

Please Call and contact the western union with your full receiver address
for your funds. Such as Name, Address, Country, Occupation,Phone Number. MOST
IMPORTANT: reconfirm your current address to Mrs. Vivian William
+229.68045565. via the following email: {w.union4@outlook.com) Your amount in
the western
union office is US$1.8 Million

Thanks
Mr. Philip George

Anti-fraud resources: