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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: "Mr.Bill Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <billmartins20801@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2015 15:36:52 +0200
Subject: GET BACK TO ME ASAP

Hello,
I am aware that this is an unconventional way of relaying an important message such as this. I  did try without success to locate both your contact address or phone/fax number and as such, I
 
resorted in contacting you via email. I am Mr.Bill Martins An investment consultant working  with Bank UBS AG Zurich at their offshore department. I will be happy to work this deal out
 
with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. During one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding
 
balance of US$ 320,000.000.00 {Three Hundred And twenty million US Dollars only}. If you are not familiar with Swiss Dormant Accounts and profile, please take a moment of your very busy schedules to read about Swiss dormant accounts: website;www.crt- ii.org/2001_list/publication_list1_A.phtm. I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account from the dormant accounts and I will take 60%, then get back to me immediately  with your details,tell me more about yourself, while I look forward to receive the above information.
 
I want to re-assure you that this business is risk free and you can send an empty account to receive the funds, provided that the account is capable to receive incoming funds, the
 
transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law. Send also your private mobile phone number where I can reach you now. Thank
 
you for your time and attention.
 
 
Warmest regards,
Mr.Bill Martins
 

Anti-fraud resources: