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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: "Customer Service" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevesson1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2022 13:23:31 -0700
Subject: Your outstanding funds US$5.5Million transfer

Greetings,

Your email was found in the central computer among the list of unpaid compensation funds, which originated from Americans, Europe, Asia, plus the middle East, among the list of individuals and companies. You are among the beneficiaries who will receive a contractual sum of US$5.5Million and it has been approved. You are required to contact the English agent in charge of your $5.5Million fund release documents with your full name, home address, country and cell phone number.

Agent: Agent John Harrison
Agent e-mail: john.harrisonss@hotmail.com

I apologize to you on behalf of world debt reconciliation agencies for failure to pay your funds in time which according to records in the system had been long overdue.

Thanks,

Steven Duke
Customer Service
Member world debt reconciliation agencies

Anti-fraud resources: