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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: "Charles M. Willaims" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ls9347351@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:41:30 -0400
Subject: My Gratitude to you

Dear Good Friend,
 
How are you doing today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail finds you in an excellent condition of health. I hope you are not remember me again?  You might have receive an email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded. I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with another London Merchant who financed it to a logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best knowning to you at that time.
 
Due to the effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed me during the course of the transaction, I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1.4Million.  I left an international certified bank draft for you, worth about $1.4Million cashable anywhere in the world.
 
My dear friend I will like you to contact my secretary Ms.Lindia Scott and comply with her so that she will send the draft to you without any delay.At the moment, I 'm very busy here in London, trying to invest my own share of the funds with my new partner. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
 
Here is my secretary contact Details,
 
CONTACT: MS.LINDA Scott
ADDRESS: No. 46-biafraland Estate, Lagos, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
EMAIL: (sl364163@gmail.com) OR (ls.lindascott@hotmail.com)
Tel:   +23490-5307-1369
 
Therefore, you should send her your full Name, telephone number and ID Card for proofs of claims of sum of $1.4m, altogether give her your contact
address for her reference and make further arrangement with her on how you want to receive your check.
 
Thanks you in anticipation for your past efforts and God bless you.
 
Charles M. Williams
My cell phone:+447937017750
 

Anti-fraud resources: