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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: SANDRA WILLIAMS <sandrawilliamsbb@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:13:31 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY



Dear Sir/ MadamI want you to patiently read this offer. I am Mrs Sandra Williams the Head of Delegation to the World Bank in West Africa and a citizen of England but currently based in sao tome and principle.I am the linkman between the Organizations For Petroleum Exporting Countries - OPEC and the petroleum Sector in Sao-Tome And Principe. I also attend OPEC Meetings constantly in Geneva on the auspices of World Bank.Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC, I was able to make $6 million, which is currently deposited in a Security company in London. I want you to assist me to claim this money as I cannot claim it directly because I am still a civil servant, and the code of conduct bureau forbids me to acquire such amount of money.It is on this basis that I am contacting you for assistance, If you will be interested, claim documents have been processed and will be sent to you. The documents with which the fund is deposited will be changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be eligible to collect the fund on my behalf.I will give you 15% of the fund for this assistance, while 75%will be for me and 10% will be for expenses that may be incurred on both sides. I am aware of the international monitoring of all large-scale financial movements after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attack on America and to avoid any state of financial investigation I will provide a classified clearance paper from the relevant body which will exonerate the money from either drug, money laundry or terrorist related proceeds.I want to assure you that there is no risk attached in this transaction.You should also provide me with your private telephone and fax numbers for easier communication and also your contact information together with your age.Expecting your Response.Best regards,Mrs Sandra Williams.
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