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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: "Fred Atama" <fredata67@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 May 2016 08:53:10 +0100
Subject: Your Attention Please

Hello,
I am Mr. Fred Atama, Executive Assistant to the former Nigerian National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). I am presently in Mali in a safe house.
My principal will like to partner with you to move out of here the sum of 120million Dollars which is in a security house.
As you must have been aware, my principal is currently standing trial in Nigeria for alleged mismanagement of 2.1Billion USD.
As I am related to the Col, I cannot be seen to be handling such a huge sum which is why he instructed me to get somebody of good standing to help with getting the funds out of Mali. The money will be returned to Nigeria is the authorities here or there gets to know of its existence.
You will be compensated handsomely at the conclusion of the contemplated transaction.
If you are interested, I will put you in touch with a lawyer that will handle the legal aspect of this transaction so that everything will go hitch free.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Fred Atama.

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