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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: "Mark Wool" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markwool47@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:02:31 +0800
Subject: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.


Dear Sir/Madam.

I write to introduce this urgent/important business opportunity to you Irrespective of the fact that we have not seen or known each other before believing that it will be of immense benefit to both of us. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Mr. Mark Wool, working with Foreign Affairs Ministry Malaysia ; my office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions in Malaysia concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels in line to foreign contracts settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I write to present you to the federal government that you are among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account, on this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds. I have every files before me and the data's will be to change to your name to enable you receive the fund into your nominated bank account as the beneficiary of the fund's amount $20 Million
United States Dollars.

As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as
unclaimed deposits, I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received 2 days ago from the Committee on Contract Payments /Foreign Debts to submit the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.

MY CONDITIONS.
1. You will give me 70% of the contract funds as soon as you confirm it in your designated bank account. And you will take 30% of the total sum for your assistance.
2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.
3. You will help me to invest the fund in your country.

If you AGREE with my conditions Contact me @ markwool47@gmail.com ,l advise you on what to do immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the mandate.
Waiting for your reply soon.

Yours faithfully
Mark Wool

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