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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: "michael williams" <mrmichaelwilliams05@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:36:15 +0200
Subject: MY CONFIDANT

FROM : MR. MICHAEL WILLIAMS
NO:43 SANTON CRECENT NORTON
JOHANNESSBURG/SOUTH/AFRICA.
TEL:27-83-536-0971
ATT.DIRECTOR/C.O.E.


I know you will be surprise to read from me. But,Please consider this letter
as a request from a person In dare need of assistance. Firstly, I must
introduce Myself. I am MR.MICHAEL WILLIAMS from Angola, I am only son of
BRIGADIER JOHN WILLIMS, I am presently residing in South Africa.

On behalf of my widowed mother,Mrs.GRACE WILLIAMS,I decided to solicit for
assistance to transfer the sum of US$20.5Million(Twenty Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)deposited in safe box of a private
security company(Stallion Security Company Pty. Ltd.) in Johannesburg, South
Africa as a treasure box fully documented in my name(MR.JEFF WILLIAMS)

In fact my father said and I quote: My son, I wish to Draw your attention to
this, during the war, I was very Dedicated and committed to wining the war
against the Rebels until I found out that the senior army Officials and
government functionaries were busy Helping themselves with government funds
and Properties and sending them to foreign countries. Due To this, when the
former special adviser to the President and I were assigned by the president
(JOSE EDUARDO SANTOS) to purchase arms in South Africa, we Saw this as a
golden opportunity and diverted the Money and divided it and I got the sum
of US$20.5 Million.In case of my absence on earth as a result of deathonly,
you should solicit for the fund investment purposes”. From the above, you
will understand that the lives and future of my family depends on this money
as such I will be grateful if you can assist us. We are now living in South
Africa as political asylum seekers and the financial laws and regulations of
South Africa do not permit seekers financial rights to such huge amount of
money.

In view of this, I cannot invest in South Africa,Hence I am prepared to
offer you (25%) of the total Fund while (5%) will be set aside for both
local and International expenses, and (70%) will be for my Family and me.
Finally, modalities on how the transfer will be done Will be conveyed to you
once we have established Trust and confidence between ourselves. Please,
treat this matter as very urgent. Please send Me your private fax and
telephone number for easy Communication and urgent matter.


BEST REGARDS,
MR.MICHAEL WILLIAMS
{FOR THE FAMIL}

_________________________________________________________________
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