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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: "MR Clifford Williams." <Jos@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: will_clif220@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:04:43 +0000
Subject: {Spam?} From Clifford Williams

Dear ,
I inherited a huge amount of money from my late father,I wrote you in order to solicite for your help and assistance with hope you will understand my situation.
My name is Clifford Williams .I am 24 years old from Sierra Leone in west Africa,now seeking refuge in Dakar Senegal under the Unite Nation High
Commission For Refugees (UNHCR).My (late) father Dr. Mbeki William ,was the managing director J & D Oil company in Sierra Leone. But he was killed along side with my senior brother during the longing civil war by rebels and all our properties was totally destroyed.
However,after their death and burial I managed to escape with a very important document (DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE)of(US$15.5m) Fifteen million Five hundred thousand U.S Dollars,this document indicated me as the Next of Kin .Meanwhile,I am saddled with the problem of securing a trust worthy foriegn personality or an organisation to help me transfer the money over to his/her country with the intention of investing it in a business under his/her directives and supervisstions,because I have no knowledge of investment.
Please if you are so kind as to assist me I shall send to you all vital informations for your confirmation regarding the financial house where the fund was lodged. I am giving you this offers as mentioned with every confidence on your acceptance to assist me as your son and manage the money in my behalf untill such a time I am able to stand on my feet.I will be happy to hear
from y ou.
God Bless you as you consider my plea.
Clifford Williams,
NB;my handset no.OO2214177097



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