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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Isaac Giggs" <isaacgiggs@msn.com>
Reply-To: isaacgiggs1@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 13:28:31 +0000
Subject: Hope to hear from you urgently.

Dear Friend,

I am Isaac Giggs in London, my Late client an expatriate was Killed in an
unknown circumstance and before his death, deposited a consignment
containing $17M Dollars with a vault Company in Europe. I decided to search
for any of my late client's relative which has been very difficult for me
before those consignments get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
vault company because they have given me a mandate to present any family
heirs to my late client.
As the deceased is a foreigner and this is why I am writing to you so that I
will assist you claim this consignment. I will prepare every operation that
will assist your claim. The consignment will be released to you within 10
working days after you have filed in for claims.

There are two basic things i would want you to do:

(1) By traveling as the beneficiary/owner to collect these consignment from
the vault company in Europe.
(2) Helping me to carry out feasibility study on areas/choice of investment
you deem best for me.I retired as financial consultant and I want to invest
my own share of the fund in a good profitable business in your country.
I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as
possible via email address bellow with the following information:

(A) Your full name/Company's name and address
(B) Your Private phone and fax numbers,

I look forward to your quick reply.

Sincerely,
Mr.Isaac Giggs



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