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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: mdelaguila@tse.org.gt
Reply-To: write.to.willc@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:32:36 +0100
Subject: urgent and very confidential

Dear Friend
This is to thank you for your effort. I understand that your hands
were tied. Not to worry. I have succeeded, the money has been
transferred into the account provided by a newly found friend of mine
in Russia to compensate for your past assistance and commitments, I
have dropped an international certified bank draft of $1.2M for your
investments in life-settlement.
I am in Russia with my family presently. I do intend to
establish some business concerns here, and possibly buy some
properties. Now Contact my secretary Mr Will CLARK on his email
write.to.willc@gmail.com phone 7052187354 Forward your mailing
address/phone fax number to him, then ask him to send the cheque to
you. Take good care of your self.

Regards and respect,
Dave Yorke

Anti-fraud resources: