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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: "MR. MARTINS BUMA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmartinsbuma15@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 18:58:02 -0400
Subject: URGENT PLEASE!!!

With all due respect,

My name is Mr. Martin Buma, head of the audit department in my bank. In my department we discovered an abandoned fund, in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who is a Gold Trader from your country. This customer died in a car accident without next of kin.

I want you to stand as beneficiary to the deceased, I agree that 50% of these funds will be for you and 50% would be for me.

I await your immediate reaction.

Sincerely,
Mr. Martins Buma

Anti-fraud resources: