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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: "Richard Philip" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardphilip202@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2018 17:27:22 -0700
Subject: Good Day

Dear Respectfully,

I write to seek for your indulgence on a US$9.7Million deal, I am an Insurance agent by profession, this funds was supposed be paid to my late client as Life Assurance policy, he died interstate without any next of kin in case of eventuality and now the paying institution has mandated me as the agent that I present the next of kin to this funds from now till second week of November after which the government will confiscate it.

Due to the fact you have a similar last name with him and With the papers in my possession, I will make you the sole beneficiary to this payment by submitting your credentials to the bank as the next of kin after which you and I will share it equally among ourselves than leaving this opportunity for other insurance agents to benefit or allowing it paid into the government coffers as unclaimed policy.

Best Regards

Richard Philip

Anti-fraud resources: