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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.Sarah William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahwwiliam@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2014 18:03:32 -0400
Subject: From MRS.Sarah William

From MRS.Sarah William
Plot 234 V/Island Lagos Nigeria
Hot line: +234-8068044039
Reply me Email: sarahwwiliam@gmail.com

Attention:

This is to officially inform you that your compensation funds valued
USD2.3M. United States Dollars has been approved via ATM MASTERCARD by President Goodluck E. Jonathan, and I want to let you know that your card has been deposited with the assigned COURIER EXPRESS; you are advice to contact me as soon as possible for the delivery arrangement on your card. Bear in mind that is because of your fund that is why i am in Nigeria we have issued a new pin code, so call for the new pin code to enable you have full access of the card.
+234-8068044039

For your information, all the necessary approval documents has been issued on your behalf, and you are to reconfirm your information for
the delivery of your ATM CARD. You have to contact me very urgent with the following information to enable the COURIER EXPRESS AGENT deliver your card to your address.

Your Full Name:
Address:
Cell: phone:

Once I confirm the following information, I will forward to you all
the related documents to your ATM CARD. Let me repeat again; try to call me as soon as you receive this email for next line of action, to avoid any further delay.

YOU MUST CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL FOR WHAT NEXT TO DO.
ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON (S) OR OFFICE(S) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING' YOUR MASTERCARD.

Yours Faithfully,
MRS.Sarah William

Anti-fraud resources: