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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: "Ian Reed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ian_reed@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2016 06:24:57 +0100
Subject: RE: TEARS IN MY EYES!


Greetings.

I am writing to you in tears due to the ongoing civil war in our country Syria. l know that we have not met before but it has been destined that we shall meet one day. I lost my father but before his death he was dealing with Gold and oil business before the terrorists attacked him in Damascus, he made a huge sum of money totaling $17.5 Million and because of the crisis in Syria now, I will not be able to retrieve and return the money to Syria. I wish to live good life out of Syria.
I want to put you as my late father's business associate, I need you to receive the money and we both can agree on good business that you can invest it until I am able to come over to meet and be with you for a good business investment. I will send to you all the information relating to the documents of deposit and how we can partner together.Based on your status, I rely so much on you for this noble assistance.Let me know if you can do this for me.

Best Wishes,
Ian Reed.
Shukri Al Quatli Street,
Damascus,
Syria.

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