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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: "MARK WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <life123@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 06:05:08 +0100
Subject: OVERSEA INVESTMENT MANAGER

OVERSEA INVESTMENT MANAGER
 
 
Dear Sir,
 
 
I am sourcing for services of an Oversea Investment Manager (OIM) to manage the sum of US$32Million, this amount represent an over invoiced amount of money from a contract that was awarded to an American Oil exploration company in 2002, one year later in 2003, the American company completed the contract and was fully paid by direct Wire transfer for the execution of the contract, leaving the over invoiced sum safely deposited in a special security account managed and monitored by the top officers of the corporation that I represent, this top officer are in charge of the day to day running of accounts and finance section including the auditing department of the corporation and have perfected all documents to back up the payment as to avoid any trace whatsoever, which makes the transaction 100% risk free.
 
 
 
My request is your assistance in receiving this money using a secured account that is able to take this money and thereafter you invest it for a period of 2 years on their behalf. You would be entitled to 25% of the total fund in question, while 5% will be set aside for any sundry expenses incurred by both parties in the course of this transaction.
 
 
As an administrative officer I was mandated to seek your indulgence on this matter, if this is acceptable to you, contact me strictly by life123@sify.com stating your private phone number Please DO NOT bothers to respond if you are not interested.
 
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
 
 
Mr. Mark Williams
 
 

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