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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Richard N. Kihuria" <edithi0iochou@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Richard N. Kihuria" <kihuriaafricanfund@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 11:10:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM ECOWAS OFFICE

FROM  ECOWAS OFFICE.
 
Attention carefully for the information, as
courtesy demands, I am Dr. Richard N. Kihuria the Manager of Economic Community
of West African States in Republic of Cote d'Ivoire There is an information I
think might interest you.
 
First of all, I do not know if I am talking to
the right person, regarding to the meeting the Ecowas in African held. Haven
done all the proper verification exercise from all our department, we found you
worthy of the cash in the one of the African bank here But I will like you to
confirm if you are the owner of this email ID. Already I have your name and
details in our file in the office, but somehow I am not comfortable and too
sure. So I just want to make sure am communicating with the real owner of this
Email ID whom we also have your other detail in our data.
 
 If you can proof that you are the owner of
this email ID, then I will furnish you with the information that I have for
you. So by your respond, if you can be able to Identify your name and address
as we have it in Data here, I will proceed and let you know what news we have
for you. I am taking this preventive measure because I do not want to talk to
the wrong person because of the sensitivity of the information regarding on
this matter. Other details will be forwarded to you as soon as I am convinced I
am communicating with the right person.
 
Special Thanks To You My Good Friend,
 
Dr. Richard N. Kihuria

Anti-fraud resources: