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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: JOY WILLIAMS <joy.williams8@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: joywilliamsj@hotmail.fr
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 09:03:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello Dear Respectfully ,


Hello Dear Respectfully ,
It is my desire to contact you with all my heart but I knew is not
mandatory and I will not in any manner go contrary to dishonour or
disrespect you. First, I must introduce myself to you. My name is Mrs Joy
Williams, former staff of Air Afrique hostess, I lost my husband some
year's ago. My husband is late Mr Williams Solomon, He was a serving
director of the GOLD exporting S.T.F.G.R board Cote d'Ivoire until his
death. He was assassinated in September (2007) by the rebels following our
political uprising.
Before his death, he deposited $8.5million ) in a suspence account in one
of the leading banks here in Cote d'Ivoire and now I have located the bank
However, due to my bad health situation occasioned by cancer of the lungs
and my breast is affected PRESENTLY, I wish you to do me a favour to
receive this fund in a safe account in your country or in any safer place
as the beneficiary to enable you to invest it in a good business venture
for the benefit and education of my only son David in future, and he is
only 13 years old presently, he will be coming to stay under your kind
custody after the transfer to your bank for his education and future
because my health is failing me at this present and I am very weak and down
which I,m very afraid that I might not survive my present situation but God
knows the best and I pray that whatever happens to me, you should take care
of my son David for me. I shall be going in for a surgery operations of the
cancer of the lungs and my desire to this money is to be transferred to
your bank fastly before my cancer operation next week. I do not wish to
leave this money in the bank because bankers might take advantage of my
son's age who is just 13years old and too young to handle this kind of
money. My late husband relatives who should have handled this situation
for me are not good type. Since my illness, they have succeeded in stealing
most of my late husband's properties except this money which they do not
know about and I do not want my only son David to get involved with them
because they are dangerous and greedy.
Your suggestions and ideas will be highly needed please because I don't
know what to do, what percentage of the total amount $8.5MILLION USD in
question will be good for you after the money been transferred into your
account?
As my condition of life is presently I don't want to contact any body or
else they will cheat and betray me with the fund , feeling that I,m very
sick , I can't do anything, please I,m fearing of betrayal and that is why
I contacted you to help me with all your hearth because of the confidence
and trust I have in you.
Please do respond to me immediately you recieve this message then I will
give you more details regarding the transfer. I,m waiting to hear from you
today.
My best Regards
Mrs Joy Williams
 

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