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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Robert Williams" <williamschambers88@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williamschambers07@myway.com
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 13:59:41 +0200
Subject: INVESTMENT

WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES
6 OMOLE CRESCENT, IKEJA
G.R.A. LAGOS.
TEL/FAX: 234-1-7592987

ATTN: SIR,

I AM BARRISTER ROBERT WILLAMS OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CHAMBERS. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY ONE OF MY CLIENTS, TO SEARCH FOR A CREDIBLE AND RELIABLE PERSON OR COMPANY OVERSEAS FOR A JOINT BUSINESS VENTURE. MY CLIENT RELIABLY CONFIDED IN ME THAT HE HAS A HUGE SUM OF MONEY, WHICH HE LEGITIMATELY INHERITED FROM HIS LATE PARENTS TO BE PRECISE $18.5M.

WHICH I CONFIRM FROM THE SOURCE BEING A YOUNG MAN WITHOUT ANY BUSINESS ACUMEN, HE HAS NO OPTION THAN TO MANDATE ME TO SOLICIT FOR A COMPETENT PERSON OR CO-OPERATION THAT WILL MANAGE THIS FUND FOR HIM. HAVING GONE THROUGH YOUR PROFILE I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU, HOPING THAT YOU WILL FIND THIS PROPOSAL INTERESTING. PLEASE ON YOUR CONFIRMATION OF THIS MESSAGE AND INDICATION OF YOUR INTEREST AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST,

I SHALL LINK YOU TO MY CLIENT FOR MORE DETAILS.ENDEAVOUR TO LET ME KNOW YOUR DECISION THAN KEEPING ME WAITING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU HELP US TRANSFER THIS FUND TO YOUR COUNTRY AND CLEAR IT, YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR CANDID EFFORTS.

YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ARE NEEDED FOR EASY COMMUNICATION. I WILL EXPLAIN IN DETAILS TO YOU, MORE ABOUT THIS FUND ON THE RECIEPT OF YOUR REPLY. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED, PLEASE, FORGIVE ME FOR CONTACTING YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND ATTENTION AND REMAIN BLESSED. REPLY TO THIS MAIL BOX:williamschambers07@myway.com


YOURS FAITHFULLY,
ROBERT WILLIAMS.



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