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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: "Peter West" <peterwest53@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: peterwest_53@walla.com
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:23:02 +0200
Subject: Correspondence From Mr.West

Hello Friend,
This mail correspondence may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not met,i know that this is an unlikely platform to start this kind of relationship but i am constrained by the present situation of my family and i request you to permit me use this medium to introduce myself.
I am a liberian and was the personal aide on domestic affairs to our former president,Mr.Charles Taylor.
I am currently in Dakar,Senegal and would need your co-operation in moving out some funds from here for investments in your country.
For your help,i will be happy to share the funds with you according to an agreed percentage.
Please indicate your interest in working with me so that i can give you full details.If i do not hear from you in 7 days, i shall consider it that you are not favourably disposed to accept my offer.
Thanks,
Peter West




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