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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: "Kevin Williams" <willkev50@yahoo.com.au> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 14:08:08 +0000
Subject: SCB BANK

Hi Sir or Madam
How are you today? It is my pleasure to write to you this day, I came across your email address, through surfing the internet, my name is Kevin Williams, I am a 35yrs old single father of three, I work with the SCB Bank, as the Managing Director of the Cape Coast Branch. I have a business package which I am proposing to you, this is based on trust and confidence, and you are entitled to accept or reject it.

It is my duty to send the annual report of the branch's income to the head of administration in Accra, last year I discovered there is a left over sum of two million dollars (USD$2,000,000.00) in an escrow account in my branch, and this funds is not made known to the head of departments, and it has simply been forgotten, this funds will be beneficial if we can work together and have this head office transfer it to your account, as the legal owner of this funds, I recommend your interest in this proposal, as the Person in control of this branch, I am not suppose to get involve with this affair, but I will act as the insider, to make sure that this is successfully carried out, if you are interested in this business proposal, the funds will be shared sincerely 50% for each party involved. It is getting to the end of the year, and for sure a new report will be sent to the head of department, this makes this business and urgent task, if you are interested and you find the capabilities to transact this business, please send me an urgent message, or quickly contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you, and hope we have a mutual business partnership.
Sincerely
Mr. kevin Williams


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