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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Louis Goossens" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <louisgoos343@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2018 22:18:10 +0100
Subject: Societe Generale Bank Belgium

 
Hello, I'm Louis Goossens, with Societe Generale Bank here in Brussels Belgium. I am wondering if you received my last email. I sincerely seek to present you as the
Next of Kin to a late client who left behind €145.5 Million EURO in a fixed deposit account in my bank before his demise.
 
The British born client was into Diamond and Gold mining and died without a Next of Kin. I shall obtain the legal documents that will give you legal rights to make
this claim legitimately. I am willing to share the funds 60/40 with you and this will be completed within 72 hours. With the legal documents, the bank will approve you
as the Next of Kin and pay out this amount to you within three working days. I considered the funds would be of better use to both of us instead of allowing corrupt
politicians confiscate the funds.
 
Please reach me as soon as possible with your full name, address, direct contact number and occupation for the processing of the legal documents if you are interested
and can be trusted to return my own share when you have received the funds in your bank account. More information shall be given to you once I hear from you.
 
However you are not interested in the offer, kindly delete this message from your mailbox and pretend that I never contacted you. I'll continue my search for a liable person that will help me out.
 
Best Wishes,
Louis Goossens
Auditor General,
Societe Generale Bank
Brussels, Belgium

Anti-fraud resources: