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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: "David Paul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactpaul14@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:04:38 -0400
Subject: ***SPAM*** [[]]... From DAVID PAUL.......!!....[][

August 25, 2014

Greetings to you my friend,

I know this will come to you as a surprise because you do not know me.

I am Mr. David Paul; I worked with shell Petroleum Company. I got your contact in my search for an honest person and someone I could trust. I want you to help me clear this package already in Europe which I shipped through accredited courier agent. The content of the package is $20,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills, but the fiduciary company does not know the content as money. All I want you to do for me now, is furnish me your mailing address, your private phone and fax numbers so that I can give you more details, and at the end of the day, you will have 30% and 70% will be for me which I will be investing in your country under your advice and supervision. You can call or E-mail me, for security reasons other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me, including sending you the pin numbers to the package within the stipulated time. Can I trust you??

My warm regards while I wait your response.

Mr. David Paul

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