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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "donald williams" <donwilliams01@msn.com>
Reply-To: donwilliams01@sify.com
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:01:57 +0000
Subject: BOXES CONTAINING MILLION OF DOLLARS IN SADDAM HUSSEIN BOXES CONTAINING

DEAR HONOURABLE FRIEND ,

I REGRET ANY INITIAL EMBARRASSMENT MY LETTER MIGHT
CAUSE YOU.I DO NOT INTEND TO INVADE YOUR PRIVACY BY
THIS MAIL OF WHICH I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE ON
THIS MATTER.
I AM CAPTAIN DON WILLIAMS OF THE BRITISH 4TH INFANTRY
ARMY DIVISION TROOPS.IN RETROSPECT DURING OUR COMBINED
FORCES WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARMY TO OUSTER THE BRUTAL
REGIME OF SADDAM HUSSEIN IN IRAQ, OF WHICH DURING ONE
OF OUR ROUTINE SEARCH OF SADDAM HUSSEIN PRESIDENTIAL
PALACE IN BAGDAD SOME OF MY COLLEAGUE AND I FOUND SOME
BOXES CONTAINING MILLION OF DOLLARS IN SADDAM HUSSEIN
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TO THE TUNE OF SIXTEEN MILLION
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.($16.2M)
AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF THIS BOXES MY COLLEAGUE AND I
CAREFULLY REMOVED THE BOXES TO A SAFE LOCATION OF
WHICH WE NOW ARRANGED WITH A SECURITY COURIER FIRM
WHOM NOW HELPED US IN SHIPPING THE BOXES OUT OF IRAQ
TO EUROPE FOR SAFE KEEPING MARKED AS FILM AND FILM
MATERIALS OF WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO THIS EFFECT
SHOWING PROOF OF DEPOSIT.
DUE TO THE CURRENT NATURE OF MY JOB IT BECOMES QUITE
IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY COLLEAGUE AND I TO CLAIM THIS
MONEY,HENCE WE SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE .
I AM THEREFORE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE COME TO OUR AID IN
GETTING THIS MONEY OUT FROM THE SECURITY COURIER FIRM
FOR US, FOR ONWARD INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY INTO
VARIOUS BUSINESS AS ADVISED BY YOU.
I AM CONTACTING YOU IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT WE WILL
BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO EACH OTHER.YOU WILL BE
ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR THIS.
I WOULD ADVISE THAT THIS MATTER BE TREATED IN
CONFIDENCE.
PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME ON RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL
THROUGH THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS AND ALSO
INCLUDE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN AS WELL SPEAK
TO EACH OTHER TO FACILITATE QUICK TRANSACTION OF THIS
PROJECT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.
THANKS,
CAPTAIN DON WILLIAMS.



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