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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: "ERIC WATA" <eric_wata22@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Reply-To: eric_wata@walla.com
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:46:14 +0000
Subject: YOUR KIND ATTENTION.

Good Day
I have the feeling that this piece of mail will reach you in a perfect state of mind and in a better healthy condition. While searching through the net, I came accross your contact address and decided to contact you. I believe and also have the feeling that with God allthing are posseble.
I am Mr Eric Johnson Wata from Liberia.I am 26 years old and presently residing in a refugee camp in Dakar-Senegal because of the political crisis in my Country . I would Honestly want to seek for
or an immediate assistance from you, I have $6.5 Million US dollars belonging to my late Father who was held bondage by the Rebels during the crisis and was letter killed.
I ran to Senegal refugee Camp when I Discovered danger to my life and that of my only sister Rose untill the death of my beloved father he deposited the above mentioned Amount with a BANK here in Dakar Senegal I have every Documents regards the transaction I have contacted the bank and confirmed the safety of the money/inheritance,
As it is, I have the intention coming over with my sister rose to your country for investing the money and to complite our education however i needed a Foreigner who is capable of giving adequate assistance to me by the way of transfering the money from the BANK and forwarding it to your Account for investment.
I have nice percentage of the money for you. If Necessary, Please do feel free to ask me questions on this as I wait from you soonest.You can reach me through this mail eric_wata@walla.com <mailto:eric_wata@walla.com>

Yours faithfully
Mr Eric Johnson Wata


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