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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: larry smith <larrysmithoffice37@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 03:56:18 -0700
Subject: good day friends

--
ATTN SIR/MADAM:

MY FRIEND AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,PRECISELY OCALA
FLORIDA, C.E.O/PRESIDENT BELL FAST AGENCY'S, 76 YEARS OF AGE,WITH NO
FAMILY DUE TO AN UNFORTUNATE CAR ACCIDENT I ENCOUNTERED IN NOVEMBER 29
2012,IN WHICH I LOST MY WIFE AND KIDS (FAMILY). I HAD INVESTED ALL I
HAVE IN CRUDE OIL/PETROLEUM BUSINESS IN WEST AFRICA, I HAVE SUCCEEDED
IN THIS GREAT VENTURE AS NEGOTIATED. BUT NOW AM SICK AND DIEING OF A
HEART ILLNESS, AS WE DO SPEAK I AM AWAY TO AUSTRALIA FOR A HEART
OPERATION (MEDICATION). FOR YOUR ADVICE AND EFFORTS SO FAR IN OUR
PREVIOUS DEALING'S. I HAVE LEFT WITH MY SECRETARY FOR YOU THE SUM OF
$100,000.00,{ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS} CERTIFY
INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT CHECK DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME. PLEASE FOR THE
TRUTH AND AUTHENTICITY OF THIS TRANSACTION I WILL WANT YOU TO CONTACT
MY SECRETARY ramond George VIA EMAIL:
secretary2raymondgeorge@GMAIL.COM

URGENTLY I DEMAND THAT YOU CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY AS HE WAIT TO HEAR
FROM YOU AS SOON AS YOU CONTACT HIM. MY DEAR FRIEND PLEASE DO ACCEPT
THIS LITTLE TOKEN FROM MY HEART IN GOOD FAITH.

REGARDS
LARRY SMITH. C.E.O/PRESIDENT BELL FAST AGENCY'S

Anti-fraud resources: