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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: "Mr. Mark E John" <revjamese95@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwardrevjames@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2023 12:57:26 +0100
Subject: Your payment approved!

Your payment approved!

I would like to inform you that your total payment is 1.5 million USD
is ready and the Central Bank of West African States approved the fund
to released to you through Visa ATM card which you will use to
withdraw all your money from any ATM card machine anywhere in the
world we direct United Bank for Africa to send you the ATM card and
PIN code Contact Reverend James Edwards email address
edwardrevjames@gmail.com, let him know that you have received this
message from the office Mr Mark Eze John.

Thanks again for following this and your congratulations.

Mr Mark Eze John
For your compensation fund

Anti-fraud resources: