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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: "william simon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsimon588@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 02:59:12 -0500
Subject: hi

Hello,
Please take your time to read this message; although we have never met before,
this is no spam. It's a real message sent to you. I know also that you will be
amazed at the level of trust that I am willing to place in a person that I
have never seen nor spoken with.
I am william simon and i have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment and Right now, I have
only about a few months to live and I want you to Distribute my funds
of eight million united states dollars to charities. I have set aside
40% of this funds to you this should be confidential my friend
reply me on
williamsimon588@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources: