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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.Bamanga Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bamangawilliams@one.co.il>
Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 20:49:55 +0300
Subject: Very Very Urgent Please,

Dear,
 
 
We hope this message will meet you in a good health? We the management of HSBC Bank Benin Republic, has been directed by Mr. Samuel Clark to contact you over
a Certified International Bank Draft of $3,600.000.00 usd ( Three Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) which Mr. Samuel Clark drop with your
name in our institution. Reason for this Draft is for us to send it across to you, so that you can place it with your Bank for Clearance/ liquidation into 
Cash , thereafter you shall help launch a foundation on motherless babies and the less privileged in your area in his name.
 
Mr. Samuel Clark was awarded a Multi Million United State Dollars project in a remote area of Japan but it was unfortunate that he died in motor accident  weeks later on his way to the airport for the execution of the contract.  Late Mr. Samuel Clark raised the Bank Draft from our Head Office in London in your name with a good faith, trusting that you will be capable of handling the assignment since he did not have enough time to do it himself.
 
His instruction to us after you might have receive the Draft and liquidate it into Cash, is that you shall use ($ 3,000.000.00 usd) on the foundation and
keep ($600,000.00) as your reward for participation.
 
You are therefore advise to revert back to us immediately and in return we shall give you all the supposed documents confirming the legality of the Draft with us.
 
Thanks,
Mr.Bamanga Williams.
Director Foreign Operation,
HSBC Bank,
Benin Republic.
Tel/phone: +22999098034

Anti-fraud resources: