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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: MARK WIILLIAMS <mark.wiilliams@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: markwilliams1280@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 09:08:54 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: GET BACK TO ME


>From Mr Mark Williams
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC)
49 Road Close A House 14,
Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi,
Lagos Nigeria.
Email: markwilliams1280@yahoo.co.jp
 
Dear Sir,
     
I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without any privious notice. I am a senior staff with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC).  My colleagues and I intentionally over-invoiced a contract award to the tune of $25m. All arrangements have been concluded on how to transfer this fund into a safe foreign account after
the original contractor has been fully paid. By virtue of our civil service code of conduct, serving officers are not allowed to operate foreign bank accounts.
 
This is why I am seeking for your mutual involvement to work with me in getting the over-invoiced sum (US$25m) transfered into your foreign bank account for our benefit. Please indicate your interest via email hence other modalities will be discussed. There is no risk involved and the fund approval will have a full legal backup.
 
Please treat with utmost confidentiality.
 
Best Regard,
Mark Williams

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