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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: "Mr. George West" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gwest7778@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:19:54 -0300
Subject: URGENT REPLY

Dear ,
 
The Executive Officers and Presidents of B2B, have agreed with  the body of united nation Agent in Georgia to compensate all B2B and B2C  scammed victims,  this letter is to notify you about your compensation as one of  the scammed victim that sent money via Bank Transfer , Western  Union Money Transfer and Money Gram to fraudsters.
 
We found your email address and name in our data base,that is why we are  contacting you.This have been agreed upon and has been approved  by Mr. James Comey Director of the Federal Bureau of  investigation(FBI) to compensate you with the sum of  €1.850,000,00(One million Eight Hundred and fifty  Thousand Euros ) as one of the scam victim. You are here by  advised to acknowledge this mail and help us to reconfirm your identity for security reasons. Kindly acknowledge the receipt of  this email as soon as you receive it.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mr. George West

Anti-fraud resources: