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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.Frank ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wunion31@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:10:12 +0100
Subject: IMPORTANT TRANSFER NOTICE

We have started transferring your $4.500,000usd through Western Union Office today according to the instruction to be transferring $10,000Usd to your name daily

Reconfirm your full Nam, Address,Telephone, Country to Rev. Fred Johnson and Ask him to give you the first payment infromation of $10.000 you will pick up today

Email: w.u021@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone +229 9948 9337

Regards
In Liberty,
MR Frank Ben

Anti-fraud resources: