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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: "Mrs. Shery Kent" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financehouse41@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:49:09 -0700
Subject: Re: Urgent Reply Needed............

Dear Friend,
  
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I
hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this
opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished
transfer of funds into your account due to one reason or the other
best known to you.  But I want to inform you that I have
successfully transferred the Cheque out of the company to someone
else who was capable of assisting me in this great venture
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you
showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you
and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1.5 million dollars.
My dear friend, I would like you to contact the finance house for
the collection of this international certified bank draft.
The name and contact address of the Person with your Cheque
is Mr. Aaron Smith, is as follows.
COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT MR Aaron Smith.
Email: financehouse41@yahoo.co.jp
Tell: +1 518-595-8625
At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment
projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand.
Finally, remember that I have forwarded instructions to the
finance house on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as
soon as you contact them without delay. Please I will like you to
accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of
my heart.
Thanks, and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you
soon.  My sincere advice to you as a Christian is that you
should endeavor to pay your tithe to a bible believing church
when you get the prize.
Best Regards
Mrs.Sherry Kent

Anti-fraud resources: