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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: Mary Qattara <maryqattara@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mary Qattara <m_r_t163@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 23:58:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please can you stand as my Guardian?




 
Good day,my name is Mary Qattara 18years old,the only daughter to my late parent Mr/Mrs John Qattara. I am contacting you because i need you to stand as my guardian in the management of a sum $8.5 million u.s dollars that my late father left for me before he died. Please I am ever ready to offer you 30% for your help,10% will be donated to the orphans like me to help the poor,then you will help me invest the balance for me in your country. Please take me like your daughter or your sister. Thanks and I will give you more details as soon as I hear from you.
Sincerely Yours,
Miss Mary Qattara.

Anti-fraud resources: