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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Diplomat John Adams Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <withme1960@att.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 17:25:08 +0100
Subject: Diplomat John Adams Williams

 
Hello,
 
With due respect, I am Diplomat John Adams Williams,  I was contacted by London Merchant Security Plc to deliver your inheritance fund to you in your country home of residence, which was deposited in their Cooperation by Mr. Andrea Schrannah.
know that you were made the beneficiary of these funds US$18.5 Million by MR. Andrea Schrannah whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the Agreement I have signed with the London Merchant Securities Plc when they seek for my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
I am presently discussing the modalities with them here in United Kingdom. Know that before I can deliver the funds to you, you have to reconfirm the following information to me so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person.
 
1. Full Name
2.Residential Address
5. Direct Telephone / Fax Numbers
6. Country of Origin of fund.
You can mail me on this email okay:soondeliverymail@worker.com
 
After verification of the information with what I have on my file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangement on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address. Be informed "that"the requested information is very important in other to enable us proceed with the delivery.
 
Best Regards,
Diplomat John Adams Williams

Anti-fraud resources: