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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: "Dr. Michael Williams" <drmichwillms@gmail.com>
Reply-To: drwilliamsmichs@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 15:12:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Dr. Michael Williams


>From Dr. Michael Williams
Harlesden, North West
London
 

Dear Friend.
 

I am Dr. Michael Williams from Harlesden, North West London, here in England. I work for NatWest Bank Corporation London. I am writing you from my office that will be of an immense benefit for both of us. In my department, being the assistant manager (Greater London Regional Office), I discovered an abandoned sum of £15.4 Million Great British Pounds Sterling (Fifteen Million Four Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr.Terry Ryan who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter.
 
The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction. The Bank officials have been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that. I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 3 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin /Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at £15.4 Million Pounds will be transferred into your bank account as the next of kin to Late Mr.Terry Ryan.  
 
This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% for me and 40% to you. I have secured all necessary legal documents that will be used to back up this claim we are making. All I need to do is to fill in your names to the documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate beneficiary of the fund.
 
All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I want you to understand that I have worked in this bank for 17 years, and I have been able to secure all legal documents to enable you inherit this fund  
 
Please provide me the following: as we have 7 days to run it through this is very URGENT PLEASE.

1. Full Name
2. Your Direct Mobile Number
3. You’re Contact Address
4. Date of Birth
 
Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this deal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest I will furnish you with more information. Endeavor to let me know your decision as soon as possible.
 
Best Regards,
Dr. Michael Williams
Mobile Number:+447011147967


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