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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 Keith Ellison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bccc2477@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 00:52:35 +0100
Subject: Godly Project.

Dear Beloved in Christ,

My name is William Keith Ellison, i am from US but based in Ghana, West Africa. I have even been subjected to physical and psychological torture and as a widower that is so traumatized. I have deposited the sum of 22.5 million dollars with a Financial firm in Canada whose name is withheld for now until we open communication.

I will be grateful if you could receive this inheritance fund and use for Godly work. In view of the above, if you are willing to assist you will have to negotiate on your Percentage share of the $22.5,000,000 that will be kept in your position for the use of Godly projects in your name.

If you are honest, I am going to entrust more funds in your care as this is one of the legacy we keep for God. In case you don't accept please do let me know in time, but i believe God lead me to you for his goodness.

Please expedite action and you will have face-to-face meeting with the Finance Security Firm. Your kind of work do not matter.

Yours sincerely,
William Keith Ellison.

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