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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 Susan Luca" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.utransfer@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:22:30 -0700
Subject: Good news

Hello,
We are very sorry for delay in getting back to you as regard your funds transfer. My computer was hacked and i lost most of my business contacts only to get yours now.
Please, the transfer has been done at the amount of USD10,000 through western Union. Western union are to continue with the rest of the transfers upon your contact with them until the whole USD1.5M is transferred.
Here is their email address and phone number to contact them now for the pick up information of our funds.
Email   w.utransfer@yandex.com
Phone   +22968619960
Remember, you are not expected to pay for any transfer charges. The only money you will send to them before the transfer is USD 98 been their cost of paper work and nothing more.
So contact them right now with above email and phone number. And also while writing to them, send your Full names, address and phone number for easy communication.
Thank you

Anti-fraud resources: