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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: "Facebook" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 10 May 2015 06:17:01 -0700
Subject: You Have 1 New Notification message.. HCTPOGCLJN


Congratulations...Your email won you a Cash prize of One Million Great
Britain in the just concluded FACEBOOK PROMO Held on 7th of May
2015. Your Ref No: (FBXQW0503), For claim Email us your
Name,Address,Occupation,and Phone number for more details.

Note: All winnings MUST be claimed in 2 weeks otherwise all winnings
will be returned as unclaimed funds.

Mr. George Harris
Promo Co-ordinator

WSYLDDTUPQYJMUKUUGDHJSBKICEQDZISBXXPHG

Anti-fraud resources: