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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: "COMMONWEALTH AUTHORITY OFFICE IN LONDON" <commonwealthlondonoffice@gawab.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 15:36:44 GMT
Subject: WAITING TO RECEIVE MTCN DETAILS TODAY

URGENT ATTENTION OF: MERVIN VAN DIJK

This CommonWealth London Office have been waiting to receive the Western Union details for the payment of the vital Authorization Fees of US$650 from you. It is unfortunate that you have delayed so much and the fees have NOT reached this Office until now. You really have to make the payment urgently and send the MTCN details today because the HSBC Financial Services are warming up waiting to receive the confirmation that you have paid the fees so that your own approved sum of US$30Million shall be released to your account immediately.

Waiting to receive the MTCN details FAST.

Yours faithfully,

PROFESSOR JOSHUA WILLIAMS.

________________________________
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