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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: mayer willains <mayerwillains@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:54:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: greetings from Mayer


ASSISTANCE
Dear,
My name is Mayer Willains the son of Mr Peter Willian a former rebel military commander in the cote ivory abijan civil crisis. Since the end of our country's civil war, the families of those who fought on the rebel side
have never had it easy.
I am writing to express my interest in real estate or landed properties in your country. Though my father died in detention a couple of months ago while been detained by the new government. Before his untimely death, he instructed me to leave the country for my safety and start up a business somewhere out side Africa with a total sum of USD2.500,000( TWO MILLON FIVE HUNDREAD THOUSAND ) deposited in a security and finance company here in Dakar Senegal.
Actually, I have never met you before, it was a friend of my fathers who happened to be present at his burial that advised me to consider your country for my investments. After due consideration, I started
searching the website where I got your email address. No one else is aware of my proposal to you.
Due to social, economic and political instability in west African region, I decided to seek your assistance in transferring this money into your private or institutional account for investment purposes.
I have all the vital documents that covers the deposit which could be faxed to you upon request. For your assistance in this transfer, I have decided to give 20% of the total sum involved and 5% mapped out for miscellaneous expenses that we may incure during the process.
Your acceptance of this proposal or otherwise should please be communicated through my E.MAIL addresses. Your quick response will be appreciated. However, if you are not disposed to assist, kindly distroy this letter to protect the identity and confidentiality of the parties involved.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Mayer Willains


































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