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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: sonia williams <sonia7wi@att.net>
Reply-To: soniawilliams22@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 14:54:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear i need your relationship



Dear i need your relationship ,



I'm very sorry to bother you with my E-mail.But I want you to understand that I truely need your assistance relationship and a trustee partner who I truely need his assistance to the great project i am offering from the source of my mind.



I want to use this opportunity to introduce myself and my family background so that it will enable you know your level of interest on me. My name is Sonia Williams, I am 23 years old from Rwanda. I am the only daughter of my parents. My father died on Brutal war by the Rebels on the Renewed Fighting in our country. you can see it in CNN, BBC news bulletins. my sick mother at hospital where she was admitted for Cancer treatments, she also gave up when she heard about the news of the death of my father in two days time and hospital where she was (General Hospital here in Rwanda),may their gentle soul rest in perfect peace.



I escaped and found myself inthis contry calld Benin RepublicI am residing inside refugee camp in Benin Republic as i do not have anybody nor family to take care of me,please if you can adopt me as your Child or business partner if possible and manage this money for me.my father is Directors of Star Energy Group plc. who deal on crude oil and raw material.



The main reason I contacted you is to seek your assistance in the area of our better future living and investment of huge sum I have in my name the sum of ($9.500.000..00) (nine Million five hundred thousand United State dollars) my late father deposited for safe keeping under bank, in my name for safe keeping to me. Now at his death,and because things have become very hard for me taking care of my needs. so, I write to the bank where this money was deposited. I was shocked when the Manager of the bank explained to me that I will not be able to withdraw from the money because am a refugee, and the Manager of the bank told me to seek for someone that will help me, in the claim as i am a refugee by status.



That is the reason contacted you.if you can stand for me and claim this money on my behalf. I will need your assistance in this regard please. I hope that we shall discuss how you want remunerated when you get back to me.For my part, I shall be more than willing to part with 35% of the total sum to you while 10% will be mapped out for any expenses to receive the money from the bank where this was deposited that is to let you know that you will help me with your honest mind.



As soon as I hear from you, we will discuss in details.



Hope to hear from you.

Yours Truly,

Miss Sonia Williams.

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