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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: "International Commercial Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ssmithlawrence@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:34:56 -0000
Subject: International Commercial Bank Limited

Dear Friend,

I WRITE TO INTRODUCE MY SELF AND FIELD OF WORK AS BANK MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA


It's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me contact you for this transaction. I am a banker by profession from Ghana in West Africa and currently holding the post of Manager, Bill and Exchange Department of the bank.

I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($5.5million) belonging to one of my bank's clients who died along with his entire family on 26 Dec., 2014 in a plane crash. Contact me if you are interested.

Regards,
Smith Lawrence


Anti-fraud resources: