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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: "Atty. Joe S. Williams (SAN)" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 18:19:51 +0100
Subject: Re: Request for Funds Management Services.

Atty. Joe S. Williams.
Senior/Lead Counsel Upright Chambers
16, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos,
Nigeria.
Tel: +2348179192908
Email: joe.s_williams@hotmail.com
03/12/13.

Hello and Good day.
I am writing to solicit for your professional managerial services in Funds/Asset Management.

My name is Joe S. Williams of Upright Chambers, personal attorney to Madam Cecilia Ibru, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank Int’l, now Ecobank Plc.

Madam Cecilia Ibru is considering investment project in your country and would like to know areas that you can cooperate with her. She has investment funds and need a local partner with skills, thus she has asked me to contact you.

I don’t know too well how this is done in your country, hence I am contacting you to help in this regards.

If you have the ability to manage the funds, could you get back to me to enable us discuss in a more vivid manner to the best of your understanding. Kindly send your company profile.

I must say that I'm very uncomfortable sending this message to you without knowing if you would misconstrue the importance and decide to go public. However I am willing to take this risk if assuredly we will work together in view of achievement.

If you are successfully chosen, information will be shared with you. I would like to hold back certain information for security reasons for now until you indicate your interest and willingness to assist her.

Thank you very much, and we hope to receive your favourably response soon.

I'm standing by for your response.

In all friendship I remain,

Joe S. Williams (Esq)
Email: joe.s_williams@hotmail.com

N/B: The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. They are intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. And please do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies thereof.

Anti-fraud resources: