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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: "Neil TROTTER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <neiltrotter@126.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 12:07:14 +0100
Subject: Re.

Perfect Greetings,
 
My name is Neil Trotter a recent winner of £107.9m Pounds on the just concluded Euro Million Jackpot Draw for March 2014, and I bring to you perfect good news for such a perfect timing as this. I know it is surprising for you to have received this notification at this very early time; this is because I am excited. And at this, I am willing to donate £1,000,000(One Million Pounds) to you and as part of my effort to alleviate poverty and care for the less privileged around the world, I have decided to donate part of my win to few persons around the globe and you are lucky to be one of them.
 
So do get back to us quickly via email at: neiltrotter@126.com
 
Best Regards.
Neil Trotter.

Anti-fraud resources: