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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: "Scoth Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <scoth_willis01@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:40:09 -0700
Subject: Investment Capital Opportunity

Dear/Sir,

My name is Scoth Williams, I am a regional manager with the National Westminster Bank Plc , London-UK. I am writing to solicit your urgent assistance in the transfer of GBP 12,750.000.00.This fund was made by my branch as excess after the last year auditing. I have already submitted an approved end of the year report for the year 2008/2009 to my head office and they will never know of this excess.

I have placed this fund on a suspence account without a beneficiary. Reply urgently for more details.at: Email:scoth_williams01@yahoo.com .Thanks and hope to hear from you.

Regards

Scoth Williams.

Anti-fraud resources: