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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: "lily_willson@cantv.net" <lily_willson@cantv.net>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:56:26 -0430
Subject: Please, I need your Asistance,

APPEAL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
 
I am Miss  Lily Wilson, It is My pleasure writing this mail to you. I felt impressed to contact you for help.I have ($3 .5 Million USD) Three  million five hundred thousand united state dollars only.I honourably Inherit from my late father, which my late father Dr Gbande Wilson deposited with a Bank  here in Ivory Coast.As the only Child of Dr and mrs Gbande Wilson  I have decided to invest the money in a foreign Buisness, and i want you to assist me get the fund from the Bank,  as soon as you receive the fund i will then come over to your country for proper investment and to cotinue my Education with my own share of the fund,  i am still a young girl and i don't have any buisness ideal.
 
I have been given some time by the Bank for the collection of the deposited funds before it will be confisticated. I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter, i don't want anything that will jopadize my inheritance.I am a girl of 23 years old and a University undergraduate and really don't know what to do. I want you to be my foreign partner and stand in as the new beneficiary in collection of the fund.
 
The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. My Dear, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.Now permit me to ask these few questions.
 
1. Can you honestly help me?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. I am willing to offer you 15% of the total fund and 5% will be for any expenses that mighty occure during the cause of this transaction.Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
 
May the almighty God bless you,
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Miss  Lily Wilson

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