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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.Mark Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <banisteraines@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:13:19 -0800
Subject: RE: ATM CARD OF $5.5 MILLION USD

Attention:
 
Re Atm Card of $5.5 million
 
This is to officially to inform you that we have verified on your contract inheritance file, and found out that why you have not receive your payment entitlement is due to the series of troubles in the Niger delta community which is by far wide beyond our control. according to the information on your file here, we understand that your entitlement is a total sum of $5.5 million (united state dollars) which will be paid to you via atm card
You will make use of the atm card on any atm machine in your location,and you can travel with your card to any country of your choice because the card can work in all the countries where atm machine is situated.So send the details below to pick up your card today.
 
1. Phone
2. Address where you want them to send the card  ( p.o box not   accepted)
3. Your full name
 
Regards
Dr.Mark Williams

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