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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: "Charles Nicholson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charlesnicholson@datafull.com>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 20:34:21 +0200
Subject: HELLO

HELLO,

I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PAST EFFORT TO ASSIST ME IN T R A N S F E R R I N G THOSE F U N D S DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOMEHOW.I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE F U N D S T R A N S F E R R E D UNDER COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WHERE I NOW BASE I N V E S T M E N T PROIECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL S U M.I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME,THE S U M OF $850,000 DOLLARS AS BEEN SET ASIDE TO COMPENSATE YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT
OW CONTACT MY ATTORNEY IN AFRICA NIGERIA, HER NAME IS BARRISTER. HELEN MICHAEL.
E-MAIL: MRSHELENMICHAEL@QQ.COM SHE WILL WRITE YOU A CHECK.

BEST REGARDS,

MR. CHARLES NICHOLSON.

Anti-fraud resources: