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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: "Kennedy Sem" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <k.sem1956@aol.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2014 18:40:55 -0300
Subject: Re: Fw:Re: From Mr. K. Sem

12 Goswell Rd
London,

Sir

This is Mr. Kennedy Sem, Legal practitioner and Partner at Wyse Chambers a reputable law firm here in United Kingdom. I am contacting you in regards to a deceased prominent client who died in England in March 2009 and happens to share the same SURNAME with you.

I request that you contact me on my private email address (k.sem1956@aol.co.uk) for matter that needs your urgent attention which should be discussed between you and i only because of the confidentiality involved.

Thanks,

Mr. K. Sem

Anti-fraud resources: