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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: "From Mrs. Estelle Michael" <estelle.michael@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 04:28:22 -0400
Subject: From Mrs Estelle Michael,


CAFOD ORG.
Head office in South London.
CAFOD, Romero Close, Stockwell Road,
London SW9 9TY United Kingdom.

Attn. Beneficiary,

Cafod Organization London UK approved the sum of $4,500,000(Four million five hundred thousand dollars) to be used to aid the less privileged people and orphans/Widows in your Country. We have chosen you as the recipient of this fund to be used in Your Country for this purposes outlined and you were chosen with trust Recommendation that you will carry this assignment effectively with Honest and kindly note that we will investigate on how you utilised this fund to the afore mentioned people in your Community as we have directed.

We will direct you on how to claim this fund Donations as soon as you replied to this Email notice and do send your Full address and Phone Numbers to prepare this Fund Donation Certificate to your name as the Beneficiary.

Congratulations.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Estelle Michael

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