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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: smi_adm1@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 13:53:48 +0200
Subject: good day plz

FROM MR SMITH .W.ADAMS
IN COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
IN WEST AFRICA

(smi_mxw@yahoo.com)

SIR
I KNOW THIS LETTER WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT GOD MADE IT POSSIBLE.

SIR MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO SOLICITE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ACT AS
A PARTNER TO MY LATE FATHER (MR ADAMS KONNIE) WHO WAS THE CHIEF OF SERIA-LEON
DIAMOND AND PRECIOUS MINERIS MARKETING COMPANY BEFORE HIS DEMISED BY A GUN
SHORT HE SUSTAINED DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN OUR COUNTRY.

SIR THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED FROM YOU IS IN A WAY OF ACTING AS MY LATE FATHER'S
FORING PARTNER AND ASSIST US RETRIEVE FROM THE VAULT OF A PRIVATE ASSESTS
MANAGING COMPANY IN EUROPE.

A TRUNK BOX CONTAINING SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS
(US$6.5M).WHICH WAS CLEVERLY CONCEALED IN THE BOX AND THE CONTENT OF THE
BOX WAS DECLARED AS PERSONAL CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, BY MY LATE FATHER FOR
SAFETY PURPOSE.

SIR, I KNOW THIS MIGHT SOUND STRANGE TO YOU, BUT IT IS REAL. PLEASE, IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME ON MY DIRECT / E MAIL (smi_mxw@yahoo.com)FOR
SOME CLARIFICATION.

I AM MR SMITH ADAMS. A SEIALEONIAN,PRESENTLY ON REFUGE IN COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC,
THE ONLY SURVIVING SON OF MY LATE FATHER AND SICK MOTHER.

SIR. ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN RESPECT TO THE DEPOSIT ARE WITH ME YOUR REWARD
FROM THE ANTICIPATED ASSISTANCE WILL BE NAGOTIATED,TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL.


LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS

MR.SMITH ADAMS.

FOR:-THE FAMILY












___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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