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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: "James Seth Willimas" <seth.wmass@gmail.com>
Reply-To: seth.wmas@gmx.com
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 00:39:37 -0000
Subject: Please your Attention


Dear Friend,

I am Mr.James Seth Willimas,i am 42 years married with 3 kids, I got your
contact while searching for the family of my late Boss, who has same last
name with you, he died in a car crash along with his wife and only
daughter here in my country.My master is a gold dealer and have a mining
site here in my country, before his death, I was working with him as his
personal help and was so close to him that he gave me a room in his house
here in legon hills.

I have contacted you because you have the same family name and do not know
if you are related to him, if you are related to him, I will be glad to
inform you that I have some of his documents which includes his funds in
the bank here ($29million) and 250 kg of gold deposited with fin vault
security and finance Ghana Ltd.My request is that, if you are related to
him I will gladly ask you to contact a lawyer who will assist you to have
the funds and gold released to your family, but if you are not related to
him, I will also plead that you work with me to get the deposits released
so that you can give me part of the proceeds.

On your acceptance I am ready to give you the documents either by scanning
to email or hard copy through courier services to your address.Please I
want you to know that I am not happy to see the deposits sent into
government treasury, I think it will serve you and probably me better.

I wish you a happy new year and expect God to provide you an avenue to
work out this. Please if you have skype I will be glad to talk to you on
video camera.

I guarantee 100% success.

Thanks.

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