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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: James Williams <james_jwilliams2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <james_jwilliams01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:29:14 -0500
Subject: DEAREST IN CHRIST


Dearest in Christ,

I am Mr James Williams, and i got your contact on my
personal search of the person i want to will my money
to.Please i willed the sum of ONE MILLION US DOLLARS
to you,that is the only money left in my account
right now. Please if you really want to know why i
have willed this money to you and you want this money
to be transferred to you please contact the bank
manager whose name and address i will give you as soon
as you reply this mail. He will help you transfer this
money that i have willed to you. Right now i am in the
hospital and i will tell you my story.

God Bless you.
James Williams
_________________________________________________________________
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