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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: "Mrs. Rebecca Garang"
Reply-To: <jeffgarang01@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2016 08:23:12 -0700
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST MY FAMILY INVEST THIS FUND

How are you?  I hope you are well. Please accept my sincere apologies for writing to you privately without your own consent. My name is Mrs. Rebecca Garang, Wife of a prominent politician from Sudan Late Dr. John Garang, the Late Sudanese Vice President who died in a plane crash on 22nd July 2005 under suspicious circumstance. I want to solicit your cooperation on a business investment project on behalf of my family. Presently, there is a substantial amount of money that my family needs to move out of a country in Africa for profitable investment purposes, and we would really appreciate your help and cooperation. Hence, there is a lot to discuss and plan on the way forward, and I shall provide you with further details when I receive your positive response.
Kind regards,
Mrs. Rebecca Garang
For the Family
 

Anti-fraud resources: