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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: "William Wilcox" <william@gmail.com>
Reply-To: williamwilcox10@live.hk
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:13:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good day


Good day,

My name are Mr, William Wilcox, I work with the Euro Lottery. I am
soliciting your assistance for a transfer of 4,528,000 GBP, should you be
willing to assist me in this project? you will be me just 40% of your
winnings.

Just as a brief,you just have to register online,due to my position in the
company I can make it happen that you would be a winner of the above
stated amount.

Naturally, every body would like to play a lottery if they are assured of
winning.I am assuring you today to be a winner, please do not take for
granted this once in a life time as we both stand to collectively gain
from this at the success of the transaction.

Should you be willing to assist me in this please do respond to
e-mail:williamwilcox10@live.hk

please be free to call me at any time on my cell phone below.

+44 703 592 7321

Regards,
Mr William Wilcox


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