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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: "Dr. Erik DObratz" <xavrolet@gmail.com>
Reply-To: erikdobratz@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2017 13:35:19 -0500
Subject: Hi Greetings

150 Cheapside,
EC2V 6ET,
United Kingdom
London

Greetings, I write to seek your co-operation/partnership to the
transfer of money in your offshore account. The total amount of money
to transfer is sixteen Million Dollars (16,000,000.00). I discovered
this money on the course for a crude oil business in Afrika. I have
reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.
I wait for your immediate reply.
....erikdobratz@yahoo.com.hk

You and me will share the money equal after claim, 50/50%.
My Regards,
Erik Dobratz (Dr.)

Anti-fraud resources: