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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: "Desmond Williams" <deswill@cantv.net>
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:39:12 -0430
Subject: From Desmond williams

FROM DESMOND & SUSSAN WILLIAMS
Country: Ivory Coast,
Location: West Africa.
Tel: +22509203548.

Good day,
 
I am Desmond Williams. I am 20years old while my younger sister Sussan Williams is 18years old.We are the only children of Mr. and  Mrs. Steve M. Williams. Our late father Steve Williams , died and left us and our mother Mrs Rosemary Williams who waslater killed.  My late father Chief Steve Williams was the former Director of Sierra Leone Mining Corporation and owns many properties before he died which he left to my mother Mrs Rosemary Williams for us his children.
 
Within a year of my fathers death, my Mother was killed by hired killers, after my mother was killed, my fathers lawyer called I and my younger Sister to hand over my late fathers documents to us. after my fathers lawyer have handed over the documents to me, our uncles started demanding for the Documents of my late fathers wealth.I now called my fathers lawyer, he came and told my uncles that my father made a will that all his properties belongs to his children.
 
After my fathers lawyer have made that statement my uncles started fighting against us to an extend he went and arranged for hired killers to kill I and my younger sister.The first time they came to our home when I wasn't around,my younger sister Sussan was shot and two of our security men was killed also before the police men came, they had escaped, that made us to park out of the compound we thought it will be over that way but it continue happening, that makes us to stop going to school.Because we are afraid let something not happen to us in school premises,That is the reason why we contacted you as an honest person so that you can help us in transferring my late fathers money into your bank account.
 
The said fund is ($9.500,000) Nine million five hundred thousand United State Dollars. US ,has been deposited into one of the banks in Abidjan Cote D Ivoire . I will be greatful if you  can tell me the percentage  that will be  suit for  you after transferring this  money in your accounts successfully and after  this transfer  you are going to send to us a letter of invitation  so that we can come over to your country and continue our education. Please do your best to help us and God will bless You.
 
Please, Consider this and get back to us as soon as possible by telephone +22509203548
Thank you so much. My regards to your family.

My sincere regards,

DESMOND & SUSSAN WILLIAMS.

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