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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: "Robert McCalman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrrobertmccalman@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 May 2015 12:34:40 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL ON MUTUAL BENEFIT

Greetings
 
How are you today and your family, I hope l find you in good health. My name is Mr.Robert McCalman, I work with the Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited,as a group head treasury department. There is a domiciliary account that has remained dormant for five years now with Ten million Eight hundred thousand United States dollars ($10.8m) in it and I have monitored the account carefully.
 
Having monitored and investigated this account, I discovered that the account holder is dead and left no next of kin to the amount.I have made efforts to return this money to his country but there is no significant evidence at hand.
 
I am writing you so that we can work together to remit this amount of money into your account as an Investment partner to the depositor (Deceased).I have contacted an Attorney for this purpose though he is not aware of the entire position. It is simple process which will take a short while to process.
 
Outside this, the bank management will confiscate this amount of money as uncleared effects and send back to The British deposit insurance corporation account.I will definitely intimate you on what you need to know about the project and the operational method we can use to effect the remittance into your account for our mutual benefit.I will send to you my direct phone number when I hear from you.
 
Be sure that you confirm receipt of this important mail.
 
Best regards,
 
Mr. Robert McCalman.

Anti-fraud resources: