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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: "Charles Lawson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charles_lawson21@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:36:00 +0100
Subject: Good morning

Good morning,

I was troubled before I came across your profile, although I have not met with you before now but I believe one has to risk confidence in someone to succeed sometimes in life.

My name is Charles Lawson; 17 years old, born in paraku republic of Benin, I am contacting you because of the pressure my wicked uncle is putting on me due to the money my late parents left for me before they died. My uncle has sold all my fathers property and he is still trying to kill me just because he want to claim the remaining (13.500.000.00.usd) which my late father deposited in a bank before he died.

I need a trust worthy and reliable person to entrust my life and future, someone who could assist to help me receive the above mentioned fund into a foreign account or any secured place, so that I can find my way to meet the person immediately in his/her country for a legitimate investment. I will be pleased to offer you the 10% of the total fund for your kind did interest and you will help me to invest the balance on a good business.

I wait your urgent and positive response.

Yours faithful

Charles Lawson

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