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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: "Thom" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidthomas8137@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:26:28 +0800
Subject: Seeking For Your Kind Attention.

Attention:
 
My Name is Mr. David Thomas a personal Accountant-manager in Standard Chartered Bank in Central Accra. A late investor whose name Terrence McNally secretly deposited an amount of seventeen million seven hundred and ninety Thousand United States Dollars ($17,790,000.00 usd) with Our Bank for some years which recently died of Coronavirus no Next of kin attached to the funds deposited we later got to know the bearer married to same sexist therefore seek for your assistant for the claim of the funds.
    
Please get back to me as soon as possible for more details if you are interested in my proposal. For further information kindly send me your direct phone number for further action, once I hear from you I shall send you the proof of the funds and other relatives documents.
    
This message is intended solely for the addressee or email bearer. If you have received this in error, delete immediately. Going contrary to this warning may be unlawful.
    
Best Regards,
David Thomas
Reply to:david@jalvesferramentas.com.br

Anti-fraud resources: