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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: "Daniel McWilliams & Elliott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <danielwilliamssza23@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2012 06:13:34 -0400
Subject: Reply for proper conversation!!!!

McWilliams & Elliott

Pretoria, South Africa

+ 27 72 981 8494

As the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Mendel Kaplan,I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same
email address on the WILL. Be informed that late Mr. Mendel Kaplan made you a beneficiary to his
WILL. He left the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$ 10,500.000.00) to you in the
codicil and last testament to his will.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, Mr. Mendel Kaplan until his death was a member of the
Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Man
who loved to give out.

His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Mr. Patrick Cole died on
the 16th day of February 2011 at the age of 83 years and his WILL is now ready for execution. According
to him this money is to support his Goodwill activities and to help the poor and needy.

Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, Endeavor to get back to enable me conclude my job. And if you feel you are not
and this is not true Please do not reply.

I hope to hear from you in no distant date.

Yours in His service,

Daniel Williams Esq.

Anti-fraud resources: