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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: "Pilar Castillo" <office1@suncor.com>
Reply-To: infocastillopilar@mail.com
Date: 29 Jun 2018 16:56:59 -0700
Subject: URGENT

Lieber
Ich bin eine Rechtsanwaeltin hier in Spanien und ich brauche Ihre
Hilfe bei der Rueckfuehrung von 8.500.000 USD, hinterlegt durch
einen Kunden, der mit seiner ganzen Familie hier in Barcelona
starb. AlleVersuche, Mitglieder seiner Familie zu finden, war
erfolglos. Ich gebe Ihnen weitere Informationen, nach Ihrer
Reaktion auf diesen Vorschlag. Schicken Sie mir Email:
pilarcastillo@spainmail.com , damit ich es Ihnen im Detail
erklaeren kann.

Mit besten Gruessen,
Pilar Castillo

Dear Friend,

I am a lawyer here in Spain, I need your assistance in the
transfer of a fund sum $8,500,000 left behind by my client who
lost his life with a motor accident here in Spain. The fund must
be reclaim and transfer out of the country before it is declared
unclaim and unserviceable by the Bank. Attempts made to trace
member of his family was unsuccessful, i contacted you because
you bear the same surname.
I will give you more information upon your response to this
proposal. Send me an email so that I can explain in details.

Please forward your response via; pilarcastillo@spainmail.com

Best Regards,
Pilar Castillo

Anti-fraud resources: