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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: "Facebook" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <headoffice.facebook@californiamail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2019 16:26:22 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WINNINGS!

My name is Greg Howard from the Facebook social Network Inc. I'm a Facebook Online Coordinator, and I was authorized to send you a message by Facebook management. I'm here to inform you about the ongoing Facebook Online International Promotion of last year and this year?

I'm pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws by the Facebook group in cash promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook worldwide. Your name was among the lucky winners who won $,450,000.00 USD each on the Facebook group promotion.

Kindly respond back to this email so we can commence processing of your winning.

Regards,

Greg Howard. 

Anti-fraud resources: