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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: "Benjamin Bongo" <info@dtail.ru>
Reply-To: bb496853@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:01:50 +0300
Subject: Re:Good Morning




Hello,

I am Benjamin Bongo from Gabon Africa.

My parents died recently during the war crisis in my country. Civil
unrest is devastating my country and I desperately need your help.

My late father, bless his memory, deposited the sum of (US $30,000,000.
00) together with some gold certificates in a trust with a leading
financial firm. I am named on the trust as the executor. One of the
stipulations of the trust is that I be 30 years old to administer the
funds, I am 26 years. The only way to access the funds is to have an
adopted parent.

My plan, with your help of course, is to transfer the funds to your
country under the auspices that you will help me grow the money through
investments as your adopted son. I will forward you the contact
information of the financial firm where my father deposited the money with
some documents you'll need to confirm your acceptance of me as your
adopted son.

After the initial transaction I will need help to prepare my traveling
documents and an airplane ticket to come over to meet with you as your
adopted son. We will then invest the funds and share the earnings, or if
you don't intend continuing our agreement, it will be my pleasure to
compensate you with half of the total funds and gold certificates for your
help.

Your contact information was given to me through some kind hearted souls
who were unable to help me due to legal issues, they are divorcing and
haven't told a soul. I hope that you can find it in your heart to help
me.

Best Regards
Benjamin

Anti-fraud resources: