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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: "Johnson Brown" <johnsonbrown74@anymail.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johnsonbrown74@netscape.net
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 04:29:21 -0800
Subject: Financial Transaction

J. BROWN & Co.
SOLICITORS & ADVOCATORS OF LAW.
52 Hatchet Flakes Ave.
Monrovia, Liberia.
Email: johnsonbrown74@netscape.net

Dear Sir,

Greetings and a good day to you. I am Barrister Johnson Brown,
principal partner of the above firm. I have been instructed by one of my client, to search for a credible person or company overseas for joint business venture.

My client, reliably confided in me that he has a huge sum of money
which he legitimately inherited from his parents. Being a young man
without any business acumen, he has no option other than to mandate me to solicit for a competent person or corporation that will manage this fund for him.

Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you
hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your
confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I shall
link you together with my client for more details. Endeavor to let me know your decision rather than keep me waiting.

It is important to let you know that if you help us transfer this
funds to your country, and clear it,you have a percentage. Please if you are interested to work with me in good faith and honesty, get in touch with me through my email address, also send to me your telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Thanks for your understanding, I will tell you more about this
transaction on receipt of your response to my proposal. If you are not interested, kindly pardon me for contacting you. Thanks and remain blessed.

Best Regards,
Johnson Brown, Esq.
PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY TO johnsonbrown74@netscape.net


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