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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: "WITH TRUST AND SINCERITY" <wcdtta@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wcdtt@myway.com
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 08:05:16 -0900
Subject: Job Oppurtunity, pls get back to me immidiately.

Hi Friend,

My name is Miss Eunice Jones. I am Marketing Manager of Options Art and
Craft, a craft/paintings producing, buying and selling company. Our Company
was incorporated in Brazil but presently operates from West Africa. We were
privileged to come to Africa for the first time with our President's
entourage to a trade Mission to Five African countries in April.
There has been notable trade and business growth between Brazil and Africa
recently. Because of the discovery of unique works of art in west africa and
abundant materials and skill, we have decided to concentrate operations here
in west africa for a long period of time to come.
Our work consist of computer-generated paintings and drawings which our firm
supplies to Client-shops / individuals in Brazil. We arrived West Africa, a
month ago, for the second time to source for and purchase african artifacts
and carvings which we shall supply to both prospective and existing
client-shops and individuals in US, UK, Canada and Europe. Recently, we've
been experiencing business growth and break-throughs in patronage and there
is now need to expand our activities.
Through our online business club, we have made contacts with some shops and
individuals in US, UK, Canada and Europe and they have indicated their
willingness and eagerness to do business with us. Some existing clients have
placed their orders and supplies were made to them.
However, because of the new and urgent challenges we are faced with
currently and the quest to overcome all odds and business obstacles, we seek
Agents and representatives who will be part of a large and growing business
family and who will support us achieve our goals while making income for
themselves.
For example, we are having problems concluding some business transactions
between us and our clients. Some of these problems includes the inability of
our office to successfully forward our invoices to our clients, pay our
material suppliers and also the problem of recieving payments for items
supplied to our clients in US, Canada and Europe because they pay by Check
and Credit Cards which are not accepted here in africa. Being new and a
foreigner in these parts, it is not possible for our firm to open a bank
account within the next 6mths. Due to the fact that our secure online
payment option is still under construction, I wish to recruit you to be one
of our Agents and also contract you to recieve payments on our behalf and we
shall further instruct you on how to make the payment-recieved available to
us. For this service, we shall pay you a commission of between 10% - 25%
{depending on the category of Agency that you chose} on whatever amount you
recieved on our behalf which you shall deduct before wiring the net to us.
Kindly note that all transactions are legal, legitimate and confirmable.
Our selling price-range for the african carvings are between $700 - $1,500
per unit. The Commission of 10% - 25% will serve to be a source of or
additional source of income to you and will not inconvenience you in any
way. It wont conflict with your work, academic or business schedules. It is
totally risk-free and you do not require any structure or office, neither
will you make any expense in any of the transactions.
All we would require from you are your full names, your full mailing address
and your phone numbers. We do not require any other personal detail from you
neither will there be any financial committment on your part prior to or
during the course of the transactions. It is so simple...you have nothing to
lose but everything to gain.
We hope to recieve your immediate and positive reply real soon. If you have
any question{s} or clarification{s}, please do not hesitate to ask.
Please reply to the private email address of our CEO: wcdtt@myway.com
Thanking you in anticipation of your positive response and a mutually
rewarding business relationship with you. Upon your reply, we shall furnish
you with further details and our direct phone numbers and we hope to speak
with you on phone.
Truly yours,
Eunice Jones

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