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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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: andy <andywilliams01@excite.com>
Reply-To: andywilliams@excite.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:25:40 +0100
Subject: PARNERSHIPMENT ASSISTANT


Dear Beloved,
Calvary greetings to you and your family.
Beloved, i sincerely plead with you not to take offence with me formy attitude of asking for your assistance, i believe that you will be greatly rewarded for your consideration.
I am andy williams,from the republic of congo Kinshasa.I am an orphan that grew up in kinshasa and i decided to travel to Burkinafaso for a better life.I got to Burkinafaso and i began to work as a steward in the house of a great politician called pierre badiel.My boss became very successful and finally left politics to reallocate to south africa.
In south africa i found favor in the sight of my boss, he sent me to school and took care of me like his own biological son.
I was everybody favourite,and this was due to my committment and
efficiency towards my job.
My boss became very sick, and was diagnose with the cancer of the lungs,this sickness lasted for 7 years and he finally died last year on the 9th of sept.(may his soul rest in perfect peace).
On the 5th of dec, an international attorney to my late boss came to Africa,to disclose the will of my boss to everyone.
To my greatest surprise half of his will in cash amounting to the sum of US 12,000,000 (twelve million dollar) was allocated to me, and
some wonderful properties in Africa.But i was not too happy because the money was too much for me alone,so i suggested to my boss wife that half of the funds should go for her and her children and the rest for me.
My beloved little did i know that the wife of my boss family and some other relatives of my boss are planning to kill me.
All of a sudden i became their enemy.They told me that i have bewitched my boss and that am a wizard, that i have spiritually charmed him, and that was why he gave me half of his will.I was then advised to leave the premises for safety,the lawyer called me on the telephone and asked me if I am ready to go through the process of receiving my inheritance, I declined and i told him all that the inheritance had caused.
The lawyer told me to be strong and courageous and advised me to stand for my right.He made me to understand that everything is in the power of his hands,that he can give me what rightly belongs to me, the documents of the properties and some vital informations about the funds,where they are located and all are in the power of his hands.But the lawyer advised me to put the funds in my fathers account or in the account of my relative for a while for security reasons.
I have confessed and I told him my life history, that i dont know who
my parents are nether do I know any relative, but i promised the
lawyer that I will get someone and then get back to him.I told some
of my close friends to please help and receive the fund,but they are afraid and they said that the money is too much for them to keep in there account. I therefore did not stop there, I took another step of faith to put it in writing and to send it to as many people as i
can on the internet until i get someone who is ready to help.
I need someone to help keep this funds for a while, I need someone that will help me walk with the lawyer to secure this
inheritance. But i need a man full of love and sincerity, an upright man filled with wisdom and undertsanding.
If you are in that category please indicate by replying me via email andywilliams@excite.com
Thanks for taking your time to read my mail.
andy williams

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