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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: "John Ferguson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jenniferguson2016@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2017 01:09:45 -0400
Subject: get back to me for more details

hello,I am J.Ferguson Attorney to the late Engr. Steve Moore
who died with his wife and three kids in a car
accident.Before his death he had funds valued at 37.5Million
dollars deposited in a bank.I need your assistance to
retrieve the money left behind by my client.
get back to me for more details.
Thanks ,J.Ferguson

Anti-fraud resources: