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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: "Mr Ben Cole" <mrbencole02@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: mrbensealcole1960@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 07:05:46 -0700
Subject: My Proposition.


Hello Friend,

I am Mr. Ben Cole of the (Global Debt Management and Securities Services,
London), I seek your assistance in clearing two Treasure Boxes containing
the sum of Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
(US$15.5million) which has been dormant in our vaults in the Past years.

The said boxes were deposited by Mr. Christian Eich, who died as a result of
a plane crash on Wednesday, 26 July, 2000 in Germany.The website shown below
will brief you in a more elaborated detailed insight about the rough
incident of the plane crash that led to the death of my client.

Going by the usual statutory rules governing our operation, the boxes shall
be handed over to the UK government authorities as an unclaimed deposit
within the next three months, details shall be made available to you as soon
as I hear from you.

I will give you my number to call me as soon as you reply this mail and
signify your willingness to assist.

Thanks & God Bless You.

Regards,

Mr. Ben Cole

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