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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: john hill <john_hill5@msn.com>
Reply-To: <hilljohn009@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:22:58 +0000
Subject: Good Day.



Good Day.
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your business or personal ethics. I am Mr.John Hill, a Personal Fund Manager. this letter may come to you as a surprise but it is out of my desire to front you as the next of kin to my late client by way of assisting in repatriating his hard earn money that was deposited with a bank here in UK for years to avoid being confiscated and fortified for nothing by the government rather we can use it to assist the less privileges in our society. I have been given 21 banking days to provide the next of kin.
My late client made a fixed deposit in this bank for investment and went back to his country Iraq to collect his family and move in to United Kingdom permanently due to wars and political unrest in his country. Since then I have not set my eyes on him. All effort to trace him even from High commission proves abortive. I later went to Iraq with the address he gave to me and find out that he died with his family on one of the bomb blast in his area that collapsed his family building. Because of his low personality the press could not carry the news afar. I apologies using this medium to reach you for a business/transaction of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium although the internet means of expression have been greatly spoiled by some bad eggs. It is with trust that I wish to contact you to know if you are capable and reliable to handle this deal with me. The amount involved is £3,000,000(three million British pounds).with your sincere assistant and co-operation, we can work this deal out together. We are to share this money between ourselves 40/40% and also donate 15% to charity organizations, 5% will be set aside to reimburse expenses that will be incurred during the transfer of the fund to your account. This business is risk free. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your positive response is received. Thank you for your time and urgent attention. .
Warmest regards
Mr.John Hill.

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