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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: "Ben Godwin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bengodwin677@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2015 06:16:56 -0700
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE

Attn: The Beneficiary,

This is to inform you that your overdue inheritance/contract funds $15.5M has been approved, meanwhile,two men and an attorney came to my
office few days ago with a letter,claiming to be from you,if do reconfirm to this office your full name / address, your phone and fax,ID,to notify this office if you ask them to claim your fund.

Note: The letter reads that you are dead... If you are alive do get back to this office to enable us start working on your file for your payment as soon as possible.

Waiting to hear from you.

Best Regards.

Dr Ben Godwin.

Anti-fraud resources: