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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: "Charles Adams" <prof_charlesadams@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 01:14:50 +0000
Subject: PRIVATE PLEASE

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to introduce you to a business deal, which would be beneficial to
both of us and which has to be kept confidential for the purpose thereof.

My name is Charles Adams, a Lawyer based in England. I wish to seek your
consent to present you as next of kin to my late client who died early last
year leaving behind Twenty Five Million Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand
British Pounds ( GBP25,530,000.00) and no next of kin to inherit the money.
With your assistance and my professional advise we can get access to the
money because you have the same surname and Nationality with my late client,
and i would like to invest my money in your country.

I look forward to your positive response at your earliest convinience and if
possible send along your telephone number, your correct address and Name so
I call to give you further information.

Regards
Mr Charles Adams
Please send your reply to: prof_charlesadams@yahoo.com

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