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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Williams" <micwils54@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 22:15:09 -0700
Subject: MUTUAL BUSINESS


Capt. Michael Williams.
2nd artillary Regiment
Justice & Equality
Western Darfur Region
Sudan.
Oct. 22nd. 2005
Sir,
This mail is being sent to you, and you alone without prejudice. The one who
has asked me to contact you having worked with Care Team in Western Sudan wishes to remain anonymous, and assured me that you can help me.
I am Capt. Michael Williams serving with the Justice and Equality Movement in the Western Darfur region of Sudan. Uninformed persons call us rebels, but that is not to be the case.
We faught for the very existence and survival of our black people whom the Arab dominated government in Khartoom are determined to exterminate.
However, with the involvement of the African Union which has sent a force of
about 100,000 men, and with the degree of the outcry of the European
Union and the United States,the Khartoom government has no other alternative than to disarm their pro miilitia janjaweed, allow access to humanitarian and aid work to the over one million internally displaced persons, and ended the genocide.
We are also billed to disarm, as stipulated by the UN, which resulted to the cease of hostilities.
My collegue and I have been responsible for purchasing arms from the
East for the Justice and Equality Movement in confidential arrangement with the Late Vice President John Garang who was the leader of Sudan People's Libration Movement (SPLM).
We have the sum of $14,000,000.00 in a Holding Account in a Securities Company here in Sudan, which was mapped out for armunitions before the peace accord.
We are now desirous to use your assistance to move this sum unobstrusively to your country, for safe keeping and subsequent investment since we have restored peace.
I have left out the details in this my first mail purely for security reasons.
Should you get back to me and show your preparedness to assist in this
bold venture, I will furnish you with all the details. You must also know that this information is among you, my colleague and I, as the only other person is our leader John Garang, whom his demise is regreted.
Please be assured that security is 100% guaranteed, and you will be handsomely compensated with 25% of the total amount as 70% will be shared equitablly between my colleague and I, while the remaining 5% will be for disbursement of all sundry and logistic expenditure made by each party in the course of the transaction.

While waiting anxiously and hopefully to hear from you, may God bless you.
Send replies to: Michael Williams <micwils54@yahoo.co.uk>
Rgard

Capt. Michael.

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