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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: "Mr. Charles Bright (Jr)." <charlesbright@canada.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charlesbright11@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 00:36:42 -0800
Subject: Good day

Good day!
PLEASE TREAT AS ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL .
Compliments of the day and my best wishes to you. I know this letter will
come to you surprisingly but let it not be a surprise to you, for nature
has a way of arriving.
I am Mr. Charles Bright (JR), the son of late Mr. Charles Bright who was
the former Executive Director of Banking Department, Central Bank of
Liberia but was killed during the civil war. Knowing your country as
being condusive for investment and your people as transparent and
trustworthy to engage in business on which premise I write you. Before my
father died, he had the sum of Ten Million One Hundred Thousand
United States dollars (US$10,100,000.00) cash which he kept away from the
rebel leaders during the course of the war.
This fund was supposed to be used for the rehabilitation of water
resources all over our country before the outbreak of war. When the war
broke out, the rebel leader demanded that this fund be given to him but my
father insisted that the money was not in his possession and he was killed
because of his refusal to release the fund.
Immediately after the war, I carefully packaged the money in two boxes and
made arrangement with a Red Cross relief worker who used his official van
to move me and my mother to South Africa where I safely deposited the two
boxes containing the fund with a security company as a diplomatic personal
effect, which was lather transferred into there office in Holland although
the Red Cross relief worker did not know the real reason
for our departure and until now the security company did not know that the
actual content of the boxes is money because it was locked with a
diplomatic tag. I do not want to invest this money in South Africa due to
the influx of Liberian refugees that might recongnise me and eventually
expose me.
Furthermore, I have made a solid arrangement with a family friend who is a
banker in one of the bank in holland on how to transfer this money to any bank
account you will nominate for this transaction. All necessary precautions
has been taken to ensure a no risk situation on the sides of both parties.
With respect to your reward, I have discussed it with my mother and we
resolved to give you 18% of the entire sum after you have received the
money in your account. We have resolved to give you this percentage in
order to motivate you and also to let you feel satisfied at the end of
this transaction.
I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate
An arrangement has be made by our attorney who is also currently base in europe.
How will make the necessary agreement that will ensure a smooth transaction that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.
Most importantly, I will like to invest the money in real estate and
stocks in your country and also buy a personal house where my mother and I
will reside in your country. Please note that this transaction is
strictly confidential and must be treated with utmost secrecy. Upon
confirmation of your interest to help me to invest this money, I will give
you more information in regards to this transaction. While thanking you
for your anticipated understanding and cooperation. I look forward to
your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mr. Charles Bright (Jr).
Email: charlesbright11@netscape.net



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