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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: mrs thelma williams <mrs_thelma_williams3@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:53:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT


DEAR REV BEYTEH,
WITH THANKS I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECIEPT OF YOUR MAIL.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ENQUIRIES SO AS TO GET A GOOD AND REPUTABLE COMPANY THAT CAN SUPPLY THE NEEDED CHEMICALS TO YOU AS YOU REQUESTED.
I AM THEREFORE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING A CHEMICAL COMPANY FROM AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS AND HAVE ALSO GIVEN YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO THEM AND HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO REACH YOU BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL.
PLEASE BE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE DIRECTOR OF THE CHEMICAL COMPANY MR ROY NEWMAN WHOM I HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF THE CHEMICAl WITH. YOU CAN REACH HIM ON HIS DIRECT TEL: +31-655591570 FAX: +31--847196251 EMAIL: cititrust_amsterdam@yahoo.com

DO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU HAVE CONTACTED HIM SO THAT I WILL BE ABREAST OF YOUR DEALING WITH HIM AND WILL ADVICE YOU WHERE AND WHEN NECESSARY.
THANKS AND REMAIN BLESSED.
MRS THELMA WILLIAMS


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