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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: Barrister William Anderson <william_andreson1102@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:10:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Barrister Mohammed Wiliam Esq


Dearest Friend,
=A0=A0=20
=A0 I am Barrister Mohammed William, a solicitor at law and a partner in Mo=
hammed & Williams LLP. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Partl Martin, an A=
merican, who used to work with Shell Oils Producing Company, in Malaysia as=
an oil contractor.Hereinafter shall be referred to as my client.
=A0=A0=20
On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife and their only daughter were=
involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately los=
t their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy her=
e in Malaysia to locate any of my client extended relatives,this has also p=
roved unsuccessful.
=A0=A0=20
=A0After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to a=
ssist me in the transferring of the said fund , to any account which you wi=
ll provide
=A0=A0=20
=A0 I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$8.5=
million left behind by my client before it gets Confiscated or declared un=
serviceable by the Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited. The =
said Finance company has issued me a notice to provide the beneficiary or h=
ave the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.
=A0=A0=20
=A0 For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives fo=
r over one year now, I seek your consent to present you as the beneficiary =
to the deceased deposited fund, so that the proceeds of this account can be=
paid to you.
=A0=A0=20
=A0Thereafter, I propose that the funds will be shared in the following rat=
io: 50% for me, 50% for you after the completion of the transaction.
=A0=A0=20
I shall ensure that all relevant information and legal documents that may b=
e needed to actualize this transaction is provided.
=A0=A0=20
=A0 All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this=
transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under legi=
timate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
=A0=A0=20
=A0 If you are interested, write me back through the above email or to my p=
rivate email address:william_andreson1102@yahoo.com
=A0=A0=20
Best Regard.
Barrister Mohammed Wiliam Esq
Solicitor and Advocate
William & Mohammed LLP=0A=0A=0A

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