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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: "Scott Powell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <scottpowell304@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2018 09:43:59 +0200
Subject: HELLO DEAR, GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY

Hello Dear

I am most happy to write to you in here. Please in respect of Trust and Sincerity, I want to discuss something with you here and i want it to be official and confidential.

I am The Financial Director in my Bank and there is one of our valued customers (Clients) Mr. Bruce Thompson, who was a Gold Dealer and he owns many properties Including estates and other businesses In and outside of UK. His wife and only son died in fatal accident ( August 14 2012 ).

Mr. Bruce Thompson died of a heart disease called Cardiomyopathy in ( June 2nd 2015 ). The main reason why I am contacting you on your Email now is before his death, He made a Secret Fixed Deposit Account which I operate financially and known personally for him without the knowledge of anyone, because of my being close to him and fast transaction response to him.

After going through this Account I realized the sum of (15.5 Million USD). This took me to a shock because if the Bank gets to know that Mr. Bruce Thompson is dead, They will confiscate this sum of money because nobody is coming for the money. Please I have come with an Idea and to seek for your Help to move this money out from here and you are going to stand as His Next of Kin. As soon as you have Accepted to this Idea then i will tell you what to do.

Regards,
Scott Powell
scottpowell304@aol.com

Anti-fraud resources: