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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: williams martin <williams_martin32@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:15:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: BENEFICIARY


GOOD DAY.

THOUGH WE HAVE NOT MET I NEED A TRUSTWORTHY AND HONEST PERSON WHO I CAN RELY ON. I AM A CITIZEN OF LIBERIA; MY NAME IS WILLIAMS MARTIN, THE FIRST SON OF HIS ROYAL MAJESTY MICHEAL MARTIN(11) THE PERSONAL ADVISER TO FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MINERAL RESOURCES (LT.COL.ROBERT KOROMA) NPRC 2000.

ON A TOUR IN 2004 WITH SOME OTHER IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY COUNTRY TO NEGOTIATE PEACE WITH SOME REBELS, IN MAKENI A NORTHERN CITY, THEY WERE ATTACKED BY THE RUF REBELS AND MY FATHER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND DIED THREE DAYS AFTER. MY FATHER DIED AND LEFT BEHIND PHYSICAL CASH OF $14 MILLION , WHICH THE QUOTATION IS WITH ME. HE SAFELY LODGED IT WITH INSURANCE AND SECURITY COMPANY IN ACCRA-GHANA, WEST AFRICA DOCUMENTED IN MY NAME ( WILLIAMS MARTIN).

I WANT TO POSSIBLY INVEST IN A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION AND A CHURCH IN A SUITABLE AREA OF CHOICE IN YOUR COUNTRY NOW THAT THE WAR IN MY COUNTRY IS OVER. I AM HEREBY SOLICITING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO BE MY FOREIGN PARTNER BECAUSE I'VE NOT BEEN TO EUROPE/U.S. BEFORE IN MY LIFE. SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY COSTLY MISTAKE.I ALSO INTENDS TO OPEN A CHURCH 'COS I GRADUATED FROM A BIBLE SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA.

YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 15% OFFER FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THE MONEY INTO YOUR CUSTODY AND SEND INVITATION LETTER FOR ME TO JOIN YOU. YOUR URGENT REPLY WILL BE HIGHLY
APPRECIATED. ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT COVER
THE DEPOSITION OF THE MONEY WITH THE INSURANCE AND
SECURITY COMPANY ARE WITH ME. IN REPLY, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROPOSAL..
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
WILLIAMS MARTIN.
FOR THE FAMILY

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