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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Bill" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikebillxx10@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 03:27:11 -0400
Subject: Urgent Respond Needed

Greetings,
 
 
 
I am a senior staff of the Shell British Petroleum (Shell BP) in London, United Kingdom.  With my position we can do a lot of things in the oil industry. All we need is sincerity. I propose that we become partners in a crude oil sales project under the umbrella of the Shell British Petroleum(Shell BP). In this project, you will become a representative of the Shell British Petroleum and sell crude oil to the end buyers. It is not an illegal business. It is genuine and workable without any form of risk.
 
 
 
You don't need to have any formal experience in the oil industry to qualify for this business venture. Everything will conform to international standard of sales and purchase of crude oil. As a sales representative you and I are only entitled to the commission that comes from the business. The buyer pays the commission into the account you will advise and remit the real cost of the product into the oil corporation's account. It is a very straight forward business and I would be glad you treat it so.
 
 
 
You are the only person that knows my involvement in this business so I expect you to keep everything about me confidential as I cannot be a staff of the oil corporation and do business at the same time. I cannot resign either to do this business because my stay as a staff will secure and guarantee the success of this business for both of us.
 
 
 
Kindly get back to me urgently.
 
 
 
Regards,
Mike Bill

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