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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: "Central Bank of Togo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nicholas_mavis@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2017 02:29:58 +0900
Subject: Re

Attn: Sir
Kindly be informed that we have received instruction from the Central bank of Togo to release your approved inheritance fund of $2.5Million to you, we wish to bring to your notice that the fund has been programmed under (Category A) through ATM VISA CARD' to enable you receive your fund successfully without any hitch
Note: your approved loaded ATM VISA CARD' is now ready for immediate delivery to your home address there in your country. You are advised to revert back with your exact delivery information's below as to avoid wrong delivery
Receiver's Name_______________
Home Address: _______________
Country: ____________
Mobile Cell Phone Number: ___________
Best Regards,
Dr. Nicholas Mavis

Anti-fraud resources: