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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: "Santos William" <santosj1@zworg.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 07:21:24 -0800
Subject: Please, help me claim US$4.4 Million from bank

Dear Respectable one,

It is my pleasure to write you regardless of the fact that we do not
know each other in person With warm heart I offer my friendship, and my
greetings, and I hope this letter meets you in good time. It will be
surprising to you to receive this proposal from me since you do not
know me personally. However, I am sincerely seeking your confidence in
this transaction, which I propose with my free mind and as a person of
integrity.

I am Santos Joe the son of late Mr. Santos William. I contacted you to
solicit your assistance towards claiming and transfering a huge sum of
money deposited in a bank here in Ivory Coast by my late father - to
your account for onward investment and education on behalf of me. My
father was a very wealthy Cocoa/Mineral Resources Merchant in Freetown
the Economic Capital of the Sierra-Leone, my father was poisoned to
death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business
trip.My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me
so special. Before the death of my father on Novembe, 2001 in a
private hospital here in Abidjan. He secretly called me to his bedside
and told me that he has the sum of US$4.4 Million United States Dollars
(Four Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) left in a deposit account
in one of the prime banks. He said that he used my name as his only son
for the next of kin in the depositing the fund. He also explained to me
that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business
associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my
choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment in a
viable venture.

Sir, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways :

1. To arrange a visit to Abidjan - Ivory Coast so that i present you
before the bank as my nominated foreign business partner and as well
preferred partner recorgnized by the family to settle our father's
estate.

2. To help me find a good eye clinic in your country that would help
treat my junior sister's bad sightedness.

3. To make arrangement for me and my junior sister to come over to your
country to further our education and to secure Residence permit in your
county. Moreover, Sir, I am willing to offer you 25% of the total sum as
compensation for your effort after the successful transfer of this fund
into your nominated account overseas.

Further more, you indicate your option towards assisting me as I believe
that this transaction could be concluded within seven banking (7)
working days. I am contactable on tel: +225 0736 9061.

I look forward to hearing from you

Thanks and God bless you.

Santos Joe & Esther William,


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