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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: "Ahmed El-Sheick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ahmed_elcheick@engineer.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:39:31 +0100
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

My name is Ahmed El-Sheick, the CEO of the The Big Baik Company Of Syria, http://www.albaikco.com/aboutus.htm .

Due to Political strife, I am unable to move my familys savings of $20,000,000 (TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS) without it being traced by rebel roces. I am soliciting your help in transferring this money out of the country. If you would provide your business name or letterhead and name, address for verification, I will transfer these funds to your account for safekeeping. For your help in this, my family will let you keep $2,000,000 (TWO MIL-LION DOLLARS) of the money.


I am waiting for your response.

-----------
Sincerely,
Ahmed El-Sheick << ahmed_elcheick@engineer.com>>

Tel: +963 2 6217751 / 621775

Anti-fraud resources: