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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: willy yao <willy_yao800@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 22:18:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: DEAREST ONE


DEAREST ONE,
I AM WRITTING YOU THIS EMAIL ONLY TO SEEK FOR YOUR ASISTANCE IN GOOD FAITH.AFTER READING MY MAIL,I WILL WANT YOU TO BEAR WITH MY REQUEST AND BE OF GOOD ASISTANCE TO ME,BECAUSE BAD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HAS MADE US NOT TO TRUST THE GOOD ONCE AGAIN. BEFORE ANY THING I WILL WANT YOU TO PUT ALL TRUST IN GOD ALMIGHTY,WITH HIS HOLY AND MERCIFUL NAME ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
I AM WILLY YAO, AN IVORIENNE (IVORY COAST)NATIONALITY.THE ONLY SON OF LATE MR.ALLEN YAO,MY FATHER WAS A VERY RICH COCOA MERCHANT, BASED IN ABIDJAN; THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTINGS TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS DEAL .
MY MOTHER DIED ON OCTOBER 24,2002, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL SINCE I AM MOTHERLESS. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON MARCH 26,2003 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED, HE CALLED ME SECRETLY TO HIS BED SIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE KEPT A SUM $7. 500.000 (SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS)COMPILE IN A METALLIC BOX AND DEPOSITED WITH ONE OF THE SECURITY CONPANY IN ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE.HE ADVICED ME TO RUN OUT OF THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY. MY LATE FATHER ALSO SAID THAT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENT OF THE BOX.
HE DECLEARED IT AS FAMILY TREASURES AND USED MY NAME (WILLY YAO)AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN.HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS MONEY HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS PARTNER AND THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRYOF MY CHOICE WHERE I WOULD TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR AN INVESTMENT PURPOSE, SUCH AS : REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT OR STOCK MARKET INVESTMENT.

I AM HONOURABLY SOLICITING YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE AS FOLLOWS :
1) TO HELP ME CLAIM THE BOX FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY.
2) TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THESE FUND, SINCE I AM A BOY OF 21 YEARS OLD.
3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME IN YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATIONAL CAREER AND TO PROCURE ME A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT IN YOUR COUNTRY.

I AM INCLINED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS A MODE OF COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORTS AFTER THE CLAIM OF THESE FUND TO YOUR COUNTRY.
PLEASE,I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITH IN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS FROM NOW.
I WILL LIKE YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH WILL ENABLE ME TO GIVE YOU A CALL AND WE TALK IN DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN CLAIM THE BOX ON MY BEHALF.

I AM POSITIVE THAT THIS WILL NOT TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME AS SUCH I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT THIS DUTY AS A CALL FOR THE SERVICE FROM GOD, ALSO A CALL FOR HELPING ME OUT OF THIS MY PRESENT TRIAL,A CALL TO PUT A SMILE ON THE FACES OF PEOPLE IN DISTRESS.

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
MY BEST REGARDS,
WILLY YAO


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