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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: "Warren E. Buffett" <Georg790@optushome.com.au >
Date:
Subject:

Dear Recipient,

We will give you more details when you reply. You have successfully been granted the sum of $20.5 Million from Berkshire Hathaway Inc for poverty alleviation mission. For more information, Kindly get back to me with your full name so I know your email is still valid. This was organized through Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (STBF) in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to give this amount to randomly selected individuals worldwide,

This grant can be used for any purpose you choose. I would encourage you to use it for humanitarian purposes such as poverty alleviation, educational purpose and personal development, Aims to reduce the rate of poverty in the country by providing proper access to food, monetary help, and basic essentials to the households and families belonging to the below the poverty line.

Warren Edward Buffett
CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

Anti-fraud resources: