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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: "JOHN PAUL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnpaulassociates111@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 21:13:19 -0400
Subject: TO THE FAMILY

>From the Desk of Barrister John Paul Chambers.
No. 5 Cameroon St Ikoyi, By Fed. Secretariat
Lagos – Nigeria.
Tel: +234-818-024-2665
 
To the family of Acclaimed Deceased
 
I would have contacted you since last week, but I traveled for
wedding, however, while in my office preparing for the day job, two
white men a business man in Nigeria and a Benin Republic Banker came
into my office with shocking news, that you are dead. The two black
men one from Nigeria and the other from Benin Republic said that you
died last Friday of Throat cancer that your burial will be coming up
in two weeks time and the family asked the two White men to come for
the payment.
I suspected the moves because of the account they gave to me for the
payment into a different country. So I want any member of this family
to confirm to me if you are dead or not.
Note: If you do not authorize this claim, all I need is for you to
forward to me your direct telephone number, address, Full information
that correspond with the one on the Central Bank Computer programming
so that your fund will be released to you without further delay.
Thanks for your understanding.
Best regards,
BARRISTER JOHN PAUL

Anti-fraud resources: