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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: "DR. STEVE MICHAEL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevemic01@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 04:18:08 -0400
Subject: Important and Good Job Offer for You

Dear Friend,

My name is DR. STEVE MICHAEL of BABILA FIRM COMPANY UK. I am constrained to
write you this letter considering the volume of UK
TAX which almost run my business down, I have decided use part of my money to
acquire some properties in the U.S.A and also in financing directly some of my
importation from Asia without going through raising a letter of credit, which
has almost limited my imports as at when needed.

I am expecting total sum of $600,000, payment from different Customers and would
want to solicit your assistance in using your CREDIT CARD or EQUITY LINE OF
CREDIT ACCOUNT in transferring some of the money to you, for your assistance to
purchase a home in your state not more than $300,000 and to raise the balance
periodically in paying my customers directly for my imports hence we have
restrictions on amount of money to be remitted at a time.

I spoke to my attorney on numerous possibilities, and he came up with this
measure, which of course will not attract any of the Government taxes in
financing. Since the funds will go directly to a home equity line of credit or
your Credit card.

I have discussed with my wife, and we decided to write you for assistance, even
though we have not met you in person. We are willingly to offer you 10% of any
money received by you, as you will receive funds in bit to your Credit card or
home equity line of credit depending on your limit.

Please notify us if you can be of assistance provided you have home equity line
of credit or Credit card account on my behalf.

We await your response,

Yours faithfully,

DR. STEVE MICHAEL
BABILA FIRM COMPANY UK
221 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE

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