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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 <orphanrequest@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Desmond Williams <desmond_williams2012@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2014 01:32:28 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear beloved One,


Dear beloved One,
 
my greetings to you, I know you might be surprised to receive this message from me being that we have not met for the first time. Please accept my apology if you find this mail offensive. I am Desmond Williams the only son of Late Mr Alfred N. Williams from Congo in west Africa.
 
My late father was born and brought up in a Muslim family,but turned to Christian after hearing the gospel of Jesus. He married my mother because my mother came from a good Christian family. Ever since my father turned to Christian and married a Christian woman his family disowned him because he turned to Christian.
 
Here in my country, my father was a successful business man. My late mother died after a brief illness which we suspected to be poison from the family of my father. In the year 2007, my father was poisoned to death by his brother over their land dispute living only me behind in sorrow. After the death of my father my uncle collected all my father's properties and started treating me bad.
 
The most painful part of it is that he stopped me from going to school just because I refused to turn to Muslim. One day when I was praying my uncle came and seized my bible and burn all my cloths and gave me a very big injury because he has warned me not to pray in his house again. Since that day, I ran away from his house and ran to a another country because he want to force me to turn to Muslim and enter Arabic school.
 
Dear beloved in our lord Jesus I am seriously in need of your help because my wicked uncle is still tracing me just because he want me join Muslim and I refused that is the reason he is after my life to kill me to claim the money that my late fatherdeposited in the bank for his family. That is the reason I need your urgent help since you are a christian.
 
Please I want you to help me retrieve the money that my late father deposited in bank the sum (10,500.000US) Ten million five hundred thousand Us Dollar here in Cote d'Ivoire for my up-keep. And also for you to help me move over to your country because my life is in danger my wicked uncle is after my life.

Over there in your country you will be my guidian and also help me invest the money in your country and also help me to continue my education in your country because i am still a small boy. I have decided in my life to die than to join Muslim religion.
 
For your effort and love for me I am willing to give you 20% of the money after successful transfer of the money into your account or you can suggest any percentage you will take for you to help me out with all your heart. May our lord Jesus bless you as you are willing to help your fellow Christian brother in sorrow because i want to live my life as a christian.
 
My greatest worry now is how to move out of this country because my uncle is threatening to kill me as he killed my parents. Please Dear I beg you to do something very fast to save my life. I am waiting to hear from you.

Please do not reply me if you are ready and willing.
 
Your brother in Christ,
Desmond Williams.

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