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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: "WORLD BANK" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:20:56 -0800
Subject: PLEASE/CONFIRM

ATTN,

My name is Mr. william koch, a Fund Manager with Fidelity Investment,
United Kingdom. One of the world's largest investment company.
I have been the personal Fund Manager for the
late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi for many years.
You may wish to visit the link to confirm
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/20/muammar-gaddafi-dies-city-birth)
Total sum of Fifteen Million,
Seven Hundred and Forty Five Thousand British Pounds
(15,745,000.00)GBP was invested on behalf of the late president of LIBYA
under a SECRET CODE INVESTMENT where none of his
personal informations was used for the investment.
This is known between only both of us and not even the i
nvestment company has informations about the owner of the
investment. Now that President Muammar Gaddafi is DEAD,
need a reliable and trustworthy person with whom I can
work this deal out so that we can claim the funds as mentioned above.
There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be dictated or traced.
Please note that all expenses during this transaction will be solely handled by me personally.

Sincerely,

Mr. william koch

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