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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: "Mark J. Williams" <m_willy102@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <m_will55@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 12:01:08 +0200
Subject: Hello Dearest one



Hello Dearest oneFrom Mark J Williams.
Greetings to you.
With warm heart I offer my friendship, and greetings, and I hope this mail meets you in good time. However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you, as we have not met personally or had any dealings in the past. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense benefit.
My name is Mark J Williams, from Sierra Leone. I have something very important that i would like to confide in you please,I have a reasonable amount of money inherited from my late father (19,2M$ Ninteen Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollar}. I want to invest in your country with a very honest person and again in a very profitable venture.
I'm expecting your reply for more explanation.
Thanks and God bless you.
My sincer regards to you,Yours Mark
_________________________________________________________________
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