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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: "MRS ANN MARY.K" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsannm@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:36:49 -0400
Subject: OVER DUE PAYMENT RELEASE IN 2014 BY CBN) sm 25

Attn:Dear Beneficiary

Your file appears in my desk two days ago Through FMF office That you are among the people approved to be paid half of their payment of USD$4 million dollars. Signed by the Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria,. I need your bellow information, to confirm with the one we have already here in our file, if you are the rightful owner to be paid and get back to me here ( mrsannm@yahoo.com.hk ) immediately.

Full Name
Contact Address
Phone Number

Thanks and God bless.

Regards
Mrs. .Ann Mary kofi
Special Adviser to Mr. President

Anti-fraud resources: