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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: maryann williams <info@mrsmaryannwilliams77.vossnet.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 23:10:16 +0100
Subject: Dear friend


Dear friend,
My name is Mrs. Mary-Ann Williams, a wife of late Mr.George Williams, an American Businessman based in West Indonesia. I got your contact through the listed postal address in your country. I lost my husband to the international disaster in West Indonesia (the Tsunami attack) and I am also in the hospital receiving treatment after the exposure to the hard conditions of the Tsunami. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .It has defiled all forms of medicaltreatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

My Late husband and I before is death once asked members of his family to close one of our accounts and distribute the money which he had there to charity organization in Ethiopia and Somalia; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what we have left for them. The last of my money, which no one knows of is presently secured in a bank in Europe worth US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen million United States dollars only) and this could be released at short notice when a willing and acceptable beneficiary emerges.

I want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched 80% (of the total funds) to charity organizations in your country stating my name as the donor , While 20% is for you as compensation for carrying out my instruction.. I will furnish you with more information upon your assurance and willingness
to assist in ensuring that the funds are distributed as I have instructed. I want you to please furnish me with the information below via my private Email:info@mrsmaryannwilliams77.vossnet.co.uk

Name in full:
Contact home address:
Tel/Fax#:
Age:
Martial Status
Company name and address where you work:
Any proved of identity scanned

Upon the receipt of the above information I shall contact with my attorney to make a change of ownership in your name, giving you full right to the funds and I will also furnish you with necessary documents / contact information of the bank where the funds is presently deposited.

Regards,

Mrs. Mary-Ann Williams.

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