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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: MR RICHARD BROOK <richardatbrook@netscape.net>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 18:50:43 +0100
Subject: BUSINNESS PROPOSAL


DEAR SIR,
THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT IT WAS
OUT OF MY DESIRE TO SHARE THIS MUTUAL PROPOSAL WITH
YOU, I GOT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THROUGH THE CHAMBERS
OF COMMERCE IN NETHERLAND
MY NAME IS MR.RICHARD S GENERAL SECRETARY IN
ASSOCIATE FINANCIAL SECURITIES COMPANY HERE IN NETHERLANDS
THERE IS A CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING A
SUM OF (30,000,000.00USD)THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN OUR COMPANY FOR SAFE KEEPING BY
ONE MR. GUEI WALTER BEFORE HIS DEATH, NO ONE HAS COME
TO CLAIM THIS CONSIGNMENT AS A BENEFICIARY TILL DATE.
I AM HONORABLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS
FOLLOWS:
(1) I WANT YOU TO ACT AS A BENEFICIARY
(2) I WANT YOU TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS
MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
I WILL PROVIDE YOU THE ENTIRE NECESSARY DOCUMENT FOR
THIS CONSIGNMENT TO PROVE THE CONSIGNEE AS A
BENEFICIARY TO THE COMPANY, 40% OF TOTAL AMAOUNT
MAPPED OUT FOR YOU WHILE THE 60% MAPPED OUT FOR ME.
IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH MY CONDITION DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT
ME ON (richardatbrook@netscape.net) SO THAT I CAN
FURNISH YOU UP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED,
I WISH TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
FOR QUICK RESPONSE PLEASE REPPLY TO
richardatbrook@netscape.net THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION
MR RICHARD BROOK

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