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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Chief Judge Usman Bellow" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecowasafrica78@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2020 08:56:30 -0700
Subject: FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS WEST AFRICA73.169

FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS WEST AFRICA  BRANCH  COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC:
 
OB/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
Attention,
Please my dear,the entire High Court Of Ecowas Cotonou Benin Republic are here to make it to be clear to you that there was a case that we  have been handling here since concerning your funds  because we got some reports that you did not received your funds since after every story you have being hearing regarding the funds and all types of payments you have be paid to receive the funds but none is received by you.
And we are here to know the truth because the person that is in charge of the transaction said in this court here that you has received and confirmed to him that you received your funds and we are here to hear the truth from you.we will advice you to open a new e mail just for this transaction alone to avoid any complication, once you do that,Please here bellow is what we want you to answer to us to enable us to handle this case normal the reporter said it has been done to you.
1)Do you receive any money from this name below .... ?
2)If you do receive money from him,how much.................?
3)From which bank or courier do you received the money  from............?
4) Or is it via western union money transfer........................?
5) In which date ..................................?
Please we advise you to go direct to this question above and answer us immediately because we want to get the truth and at this time if you don't receive your funds, you will receive it according to the instruction of this High Court Of Ecowas in this  Country Cotonou Benin Republic because we have been receiving news from your Government that our Government officials and personalities are scamming people of your Country and all that is what we are going to handle at once and we need your reply so that we can get the truth. so we want  to compensation you $18.5million dollars
PLEASE CONTACT THE PERSON IN CHARGES OF YOUR CASE WITH ABOVE OR BELOW EMAIL?
Thanks.
Best Regard.
Chief  Judge Usman Bellow,
FROM HIGH COURT COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
E-MAIL ( ecowasafrica78@gmail.com )
 

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