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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: quilihue <quilihue@neunet.com.ar>
Reply-To: jamesmurray012@googlemail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:26:23 +0130
Subject: Dear Inheritor,


Dear Inheritor,

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Lieutenant
William Evan Crawford Allan, I once again try to notify you as my earlier
letter was returned undelivered.

I wish to notify you that Late Lieutenant William Evan Crawford Allan
made you a beneficiary in his WILL. He left the sum of Six Million, Two
Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars to you in the Codicil and last
testament to his WILL. Please if I am able to reach you as I am hopeful,
kindly endeavour to get back to me sooner, so as to enable me conclude my
job.Please Confirm your Full Name and Address, so that we can be sure we
have actually contacted the Real Inheritor.Send your reply to me on my
personal email address which is (jamesmurray012@googlemail.com)

Yours in Service,
Mr.James Murray


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