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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: Martin Williams <mar_william20@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: maritin2003@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:38:39 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear Beloved,


Dear Beloved,
Please I am Mr. Martin Williams, the only son of late chief George Williams from Sierra Leone. I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance to transfer our cash of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) now in the custody of a BANK here in Abidjan to your private account pending our arrival to your country.
 
 
My late father, chief GEORGE WILLIAMS, a native of Mende district in the Northern province of Sierra. Leone was the general Manager of Sierra Leone mining co-operation (S.L.M.C.) Freetown. According to my father. This money was the income accrued from mining co-operations over draft and minor sales.
 Before the peak of the civil war between the rebels forces of major Paul Koroma and the combined forces of ECOMOG peace keeping operation that almost destroyed my country, following the forceful removal from power of the Civilian Elected President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah by the rebels. My father had already made arrangement for his family, my mother, my little sister and myself to be evacuated to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire with our personal effects and the box containing team. My father deposited the fund for the safe custody until after the war when he will join us. During the war in my country, and following the indiscriminate looting of public and Government properties by the rebel in forces, the Sierra Leone mining coop. was one of the targets looted and destroyed.
 
My father including other top Government functionaries were attacked and killed by the rebels in November 2001 because of his relationship with the civilian Government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. As a result of my father death, and with the news of my uncles involvement in air crash in January, dashed our hope of survival. The untimely deaths caused my mothers heart failure and other related complications of which she later died in the hospital after we must have spent a lot of money on her. Now my 18-year-old sister and myself are alone in this strange country suffering without any care or help. Without any relation, we are now like refugees and orphans. Our only hope now is in fund our father deposited in the BANK To this effect, I humbly solicit your assistance in the following ways. To assist me claim this fund from the BANK as co-beneficiary.
 
To transfer this money in your name to your country. To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our behalf in your country and you, the caretaker. To secure a college for my little sister and my self in your country to further our education. And to make arrangement for our travel with you to your country after you have transferred this fund. Most importantly, the whole documents issued after deposit are in my custody.  I beg to concede 10% of this money to you for your efforts assistance.plesase contacts us this Email box mar_william20@yahoo.fr
TELEPHONE:+225 07673852


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