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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: "Mr.Bill Clark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <billclark780@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:05:49 -0700
Subject: RE: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT

From The Desk of Mr.Bill Clark
Head Investigation/Unsettled Payments.
Contract/Lottery/Inheritance/Next of Kin Payments
Madrid Spain.
Email: billclark780@yahoo.cn

RE: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$3,500,000.00

Greetings,

On behalf of the unsettled debt commitee I wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract/lottery funds in conjunction with the World Bank Auditor General and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of the above quoted amount to your designated bank account from their offshore account with us.

The reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds. The only thing required from you is to send all the transfer documents that will enable you receive your fund to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

Your transfer slip N0:BA001176894/08.Please quote this transfer slip in all your correspondence with this office. You are required to reconfirm the under listed:

1, Full name
2, Contact phone and fax numbers
3, Occupation
4, Contact address (home or office)
5, Age
6, Nature of unsettled payment.

We shall proceed with the processing/funds release once the aformentioned has been provided which should be sent to billclark780@yahoo.cn

Yours sincerely,
Mr.Bill Clark.

Anti-fraud resources: