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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: "U.S GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2016 04:43:41 -0700
Subject: COMPLETING THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS.


THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REFUND EVERY DIME STOLEN FROM YOU BY AFRICANS OR LOST TO SCAMS.THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED INTO FOR YEARS AND WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SWINDLED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE FINALLY PROCURED ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN RELEASING YOUR FUND AND AS WE SPEAK YOUR FUND IS IN ONE OF THE LEADING BANKS IN THE COUNTRY READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY OF YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

NOW YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OPEN THE ATTACHED FILE NAMED COMPENSATION AND THEN GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION ON THE ATTACHED FILE AND CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE THAT THOSE ARE YOUR INFORMATION AND YOUR HOME ADDRESS.WITHOUT OPENING THE SAID FILE NAME COMPENSATION WE CANNOT CONFIRM YOU ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE REFUND.

WE THEREFORE URGE YOU TO OPEN THE SAID FILE AND CLICK RUN TO VIEW THEN RESPOND BACK TO THIS OFFICE CONFIRMING THE INFORMATION ON THE ATTACHED FILE NAMED COMPENSATION IS YOURS.DO MAKE SURE YOU OPEN THE ATTACHED AND CLICK RUN TO VIEW.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR COMPENSATION

Anti-fraud resources: