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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: "Wilcox Greg" <info@8u8.hk>
Reply-To: wilcox8200@8u8.hk
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:20:46 -0600
Subject:




Good day Friend,

My name is Wilcox Greg, I work with the Euro Lottery. I am soliciting your
assistance for a swift transfer of £4,528,000 GBP, should you be willing
to assist me in this project, You will be giving me just 30% of your
winnings.

To be brief, you will have to register online and due to my position in
the office I will guarantee you of becoming a winner of the above stated
amount. Note that I will secure the payment for playing the lottery here
in my office.

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 this for
granted as this is once in a life time opportunity as we both stand to
collectively gain from this at the success of the transaction.

Should you be willing to run this transaction with me, please do respond
to e-mail: wilcox8200@8u8.hk

Regards,
Wilcox Greg.


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