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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. Roy Hill" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <royhill@live.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:44:03 +0530
Subject: Business Relationship Proposal

   My Dearest,
    
    Hope my letter meets you in good health; I propose to you a request that would be of immense benefit to both of us. First and foremost I apologize using this medium to reach you for a transaction of this magnitude but this is due to the Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal I want to count on you as a respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality.
    
    I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction Being an executor of wills, it is possible that we may be tempted to make fortune out of a client's situations, when we cannot help it or left with no better option. The issue I am presenting to you is a case of my client who died without a (WILL) for 12.4 million pounds which was allocated on his name to some war zones in 2006 but unfortunately he died after a protracted illness without disbursing the funds.
    
    The share would be 35% for you and 65% for me. I would want to take care of the needy and less privileged, as this is my primary objective. All I have to do is amend the (WILL) to make you the beneficiary to the 12.4 million pounds legacy. Upon the acknowledgment of this mail to my private email (royhill@globomail.com) details would be given to you.
    
    I look forward to hearing from you soon
    
    Yours truly
    
    Mr. Roy Hill
 

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