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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: "Pastor John waters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pastorjohn@foxmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 00:57:06 +0800
Subject: I am Pastor John

Dear Beloved
 
I am Pastor John , I am ill and might not survive according to my doctor as a result of cancer. I want to
 
distribute my funds to charity organizations in your country through you to use to build schools, hospitals
 
and promise you the %5 percent of the $10 million dollars.
 
Please Respond 
 
Pastor John

Anti-fraud resources: