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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: "Andrew Thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <at1835389@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2023 23:54:13 -0800
Subject: Compliment !!!

Dearest.
 
I am Mr. Andrew Thompson. I work in one of the Security companies here. I am contacting you in regards to a treasure trunk box, in a vault with my private security company since the year (2012), belonging to a Lebanese property magnate, now deceased. The owner of the vault died along-side with his entire family on Air Algeria flight that crashed in Northern Mali West Africa on the 24th July 2014 killing all 116 people on board, you can get more details on the website below:
 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/24/world/africa/air-algerie-flight
 
The proposition is to move this treasure trunk box out, for us to prevent my company from claiming it. Kindly respond promptly with the following information :
 
(A) YOUR FULL NAMES
(B) ADDRESS
(C) YOUR COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS ( If any )
(D) PHONE  NUMBERS .
(E) YOUR AGE,MARITAL STATUS & NATIONALITY.
(F) OCCUPATION & POSITION.
 
 
The item's in the trunk box will be shared in the ratio of 60% for me,40% for you .This business is (100%) risk free. Get back to me via :  at1835389@gmail.com
 
Regards,
 
Mr. Andrew Thompson.

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