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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: "Altun Emiran" <altunemiran@gmail.com>
Reply-To: altunemiran@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 04:52:45 +0100
Subject: I am From Syria

*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r) Pro*
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in tears due to the ongoing civil war in my country. My father was dealing in Gold and oil business before the terrorists attacked and killed him in Damascus. He made huge sums of money totaling $17.5 Million.

I will not be able to retrieve and return the money to Syria. I wish to live good life out of Syria. I need you to receive this money and we can both agree on good business. Please let me know if you can handle this, and I will send you a number to call me.

Best Wishes,
Altun Emiran
Damascus - Syria.

Anti-fraud resources: