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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: "williams hans" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hans2_w@yahoo.se>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:08:14 -1000
Subject: YOUR RESPONSE IS NEEDED

Dear Sir/Madam,

I understand that receiving my email would come to you as a surprise because you do not know me. I am Mr. Williams Hans, I formerly work with an OIL MERCHANT IN LIBYA, EXPORTING DEPARTMENT OF CRUDE OIL PRODUCTS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

I got your contact through a country short listed directory, I want you to help me to claim this Box that is already in overseas as the beneficiary because your Last Name has the same name used in depositing it in a FINANCIAL STORAGE HOUSE overseas and the contents of the Box is US$150,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills and registered as Family Treasure Box to the Diplomatic Financial Storage House.

All I want you to do for me now (as you share same name as the depositor) is to give me your full names, mailing address, your private phone/mobile, then I will forward your information to the Diplomatic Financial Storage House as the beneficiary so that you can proceed for the claim, at the end of this transaction 65% is for me while 30% will be for you and additional 5% for you for any expenses you incur during the transaction.

If this arrangement is okay by you, you can indicate your interest by replying to my proposal and for security reasons other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me including sending of the keys of the Box to you and keep this transaction confidential without involving any third party.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Williams Hans

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