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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: "Mrs. Caroline Kwanjai" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thailandsecretary@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 00:39:33 -0700
Subject: Your confirmation is needed please

My name is Mrs. Caroline Kwanjai the secretary of Thailand department of Treasury. Please there is counter claim on your entitled funds presently by one Mr. Peter Schwartz from Detroit Michigan, USA. He is trying to make us believe that you are dead and even explained that you had an agreement with him to help you in receiving your payment of $2.5 Million USD.
Kindly confirm to us for your urgent release of the entitled Funds immediately.

Do you have a next of kin in the USA with the name Mr. Peter Schwartz? Your urgent response is needed so this office will not be held responsible for making payment to the wrong person. We understood from your file that you have been in this transaction for a long time but unfortunately you have not been able to receive your Funds.
Now we are ready to wire the Funds of US$2.5Million to you but we are face with the challenge of this counter claim from someone else claiming to be your next of kin.
We await your response for clarification of this matter today.
Yours Sincerely
Mrs. Caroline Kwanjai
Email: thailandsecretary@gmail.com

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