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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss Carol Woods" <misswoodmayer@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: carolwoods_clark@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:55:34 +0000
Subject: ENQUIRY

Dear Friend,

I am Carol Woods, a staff of Meyer and Clark Business consulting. We
represent a leading United Kingdom Bank in an investigation involving a
client who shares your surname, this Client died intestate and nominated no
next of kin to inherit the title over the investments made with the Bank.

It is important to determine your relationship with him since you both share
the same surnames, so as to enable us conclude our investigation and have
his estate pass on. Please confirm if you are related or know of any
connection with our client, Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Ms. Carol Woods
Meyer &Clark Business Consulting

_________________________________________________________________
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