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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • swills1759@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Samuel Williams" <swilliams1960@williamslawyerchambers.com>
Reply-To: swills1759@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 16:01:37 +0000
Subject: Urgent

Dear Friend,

I am Samuel Williams ; an attorney to one of your nationals who died with
his family in a car crash on the 8th day of August 2003 hereinafter refers
as "my deceased client".

My deceased client as a result of his sudden death did not leave information
that could locate his relatives, and I am saddled with the responsibility to
provide his relative who will inherit his Contracts Payment of
$13,000,000.00 in the Summit Finance Company Nigeria. The deceased executed
the Supply and Installation of Metallurgical Plant Project for Ajaokuta
Steel Company Nigeria. The contract payment has been overdue and would be
confiscated if I do not provide my deceased client's relative who will
inherit the fund before the next 30 days.

Subsequently, I embarked on a search that availed me your contact base on
you share the same last name with my deceased client, hence, I seek your
consent and assistance to inherit the contract payment than leave it
confiscated.

Whereas my deceased client did not write a will, I will process a Letter of
Administration in your favour, and I have the required documents to process
the transaction within the limit of law and risk free. There will be no
counter-claim or unforeseen hiccups in course of this transaction, but it is
imperative we commence the transaction immediately to restrain the Finance
Company from confiscating the contract payment.

I envisage completing the transaction within a period of 7 working you
permit me to go on with the transaction on your name.

Yours faithfully,
Samuel Williams Esq.
No. 18 Elias close Victoria Island, Lagos
NB: This is my private email address (swills1759@gmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam