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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: "Yusef crawford" <wilsonyom28@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 01:32:27 +0000
Subject: INFORMATION FOR YOU.TREAT AS URGENT.

The Auditor/Head
of Department
Royal Trust Bank Plc,
Lagos Nigeria.

Hello,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics.I will introduce myself as Mr.Wilson Yom,One of our accounts with
holding balance of $6.5,000.000 USD has been dormant and has not been
operated for the past 4 years.

>From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a
foreignerby name ENGN A. died in July, 2000 and since then nobody has done
anything as regards the claiming of his money because he has no family
members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.
Also Information from the National Immigration states that he was also
single on entry into Nigeria.I have secretly resolved to find a reliable
foreign partner to deal with.I thus propose to do business with you,
standing in as the next of kin to effect the release of this fund after due
process has been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any
other illegal act. On your indication of interest, please get back to me
through my email or call me on this #234-1-721-5288.

Your phone number/fax/mailing address will also be needed for communication
purpose based on trust and honesty.

Best Regards
Mr. Wilson Yom


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