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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: "elizabeth williams" <elizabethwilliams45@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:59:33 +0100 (CET)
Subject: DEAR FAITHFUL,


DEAR FAITHFUL,=20
GOOD A THING TO WRITE YOU. I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR YOU HOWEVER IS NOT MAN=
DATORY NOR WILL I IN ANY MANNER COMPEL YOU TO HONOUR AGAINST YOUR WILL.=
I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO=
T MET BEFORE EITHER PHYSICALLY OR THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE. I BELIEVE IS =
THE WISH OF GOD.

INTRODUCTION: I AM MISS ELIZABETH WILLIAMS 21YEARS OLD AND THE ONLY DAU=
GHTER OF MY LATE PARENTS CHIEF AND MRS. WILLIAMS JOHNSON MY FATHER WA=
S A HIGHLY REPUTABLE BUSNNESS MAGNET-(A COCOA MERCHANT) WHO OPERATED IN=
THE CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST-COTE D'IVOIRE DURING HIS DAYS.
IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT HE PASSED AWAY MYSTERIOUSLY IN FRANCE DURING ONE =
OF HIS BUSINESS TRIPS ABROAD ON THE 12TH. FEBUARY 2002. THOUGH HIS SUDD=
EN DEATH WAS LINKED OR RATHER SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN MASTERMINDED BY AN=
UNCLE OF HIS WHO TRAVELLED ALONG WITH HIM AT THAT TIME.=20

BUT GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH! MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS JUST 4YEARS OLD, AND=
SINCE THEN MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL. BEFORE HIS DEATH 12/2/ 2002 H=
E CALLED THE SECRETARY WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND TOLD HER=
THAT HE HAS A PRIVATE LETTER FOR ME IN MY WARDROPE AND IS ABOUT HIS DE=
POSIT, BUT HE NEVER TOLD THE LADY ABOUT THE MONEY, INSTEAD HE SAID FAMI=
LY ASSET AND IT WAS WHEN I GOT THE NOTE I DISCOVERED IT WAS ALL ABOUT H=
IS MONEY AT THE SUM OF SIXTEEN MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED S=
TATE DOLLARS.(USD$16.700,000.00) WHICH HE DEPOSITED AS A FAMILY ASSET W=
ITH A SECURITY TRUST COMPANY.=20

HE FURTHER TOLD THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH WHERE HE USE TO WORSHIP THAT H=
E HAD DEPOSITED A FAMILY VALUABLES WITH A SECURITY TRUST COMPANY AND IT=
IS IN MY NAME AS HIS ONLY HAIR APPARANT IN A WRITTEN NOTE AND ALSO TO =
THE SECURITY COMPANY AS WELL. THOUGH, HE NEVER DISCLOSE TO ANYBODY ABOU=
T THE CONTENT AS MONEY; BUT MAKE THIS CLEAR IN A PRIVATE NOTE AND KEPT =
IT IN MY POSSESSION THAT THE CONTENT IS MONEY SO THAT I CAN BE CAREFUL =
AND WISE IN HANDLING THE CLAIM, SO HE SAID.

I AM JUST 21YEARS OLD AND A UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE AND REALLY DON'T K=
NOW WHAT TO DO. NOW I CAN NOT LAY MY HANDS ON THE FUND BECAUSE HE LEFT =
AN INSTRUCTION WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY THAT THE CONSIGNMENT WILL ONLY=
BE MOVED ABROAD UPON MY PROVISION OF FOREIGN PARTNER. WHO WILL TAKE DE=
LIVERY OF THE CONSIGNMENT (1 TRUNK BOX) ON MY BEHALF. THIS IS BECAUSE I=
HAVE SUFFERED A LOT OF SET BACKS AS A RESULT OF INCESSANT POLITICAL CR=
ISIS HERE IN IVORY COAST AND HIS WICKED BROTHERS WHO WANT TO KILL ME AN=
D GET THE PROPERTY ENRISH THEM.

THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ACTUALLY BROUGHT SORROW TO MY LIFE. MY DEAR, I A=
M IN A SINCERE DESIRE OF YOUR HUMBLE ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARDS. YOUR S=
UGGESTIONS AND IDEAS WILL BE HIGHLY REGARDED. NOW PERMIT ME TO ASK THES=
E FEW QUESTIONS:-=20

1. CAN YOU HONESTLY HELP ME?=20
2. CAN I COMPLETELY TRUST YOU?=20
3. I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL FUND AND 5% FOR ANY EXPEN=
SIS MIGHTY ACCURE DURING THE CAUSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.=20
I WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASSURE YOU OF YOUR SECURITY ON THIS T=
RANSACTION NOW AND IN FUTURE. THE TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE. PROVID=
ED YOU CAN GIVE US A VERY STRONG ASSURANCE AND GUARANTEE THAT MY SHARE =
WILL BE SECURED. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TREAT THIS MATTER AS VERY CONFIDENT=
IAL.=20

PLEASE, CONSIDER THIS AND GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.=20
MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU,=20
YOURS FAITHFULLY.
ELIZABETH WILLIAMS


La carrera hacia la Casa Blanca, a un click de distancia http://www.sta=
rmedia.com/noticias/especiales/gobiernousa.html

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