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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: "Williams Duncan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williams_duncan@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:09:49 -0400
Subject: ACT AS THE ADMINSTRATOR..

VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

I AM SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ACT AS THE ADMINSTRATOR OF USD135.8M
I HOPE THIS LETTER MEETS YOU IN GOOD HEALTH AND SPIRIT; I AM WILLIAMS DUNCAN , A
SIERRA LEONIAN. PRESENTLY, I LIVE AS A REFUGEE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER
SANDRA. I AM A VICTIM OF WAR AND THE SON OF LATE CHIEF HANSON WILLIAMS THE ASSASINATED
FORMER ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR OF SIERRA LEONE GOLD AND DIAMOND MINING CORPORATION. MY
FATHER WAS KILLED WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DURING WORKING HOURS WHEN THE
REBEL TROOP STORMED AND RAIDED THE MINING CORPORATION OFFICE AT THE HEAT OF THE CRISIS IN
MY COUNTRY. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE REBELS ALSO INVADED OUR RESIDIENC IN WHICH MY MOTHER
AND TWO OF OUR SECURITY MEN WERE KILLED IN THE COMPOUND WHILE I WAS OUT FOR A SPECIAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMME AND MY YOUNGER SISTER WAS IN SCHOOL.
I HAD A SINGULAR SHOCK AND TRAUMA, WHICH COMPELLED US TO FLEE FROM THE COUNTRY TO
UNITED KINGDOM BY THE HELP OF AN ARMY COLONEL, WHO IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MY LATE FATHER.

I AM WRITING YOU IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE PRIMARILY TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ACT AS THE
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FUNDS US$135.8M (ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY FIVE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS) ONLY DEPOSITED IN CUSTODY OF A BANK IN ENGLAND BY MY LATE FATHER.

I AM THE BENFICIARY BUT AN ADMINISTRATOR IS REQUIRED AS THE CONDITION OF RELEASE OF THE FUND AS
INSTRUCTED BY MY LATE FATHER.
I AM MAKING THIS REQUEST TO YOU WITH TEARS IN MY EYES AND I FEEL THAT GOD ALMIGHTY WILL TOUCH YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT TO LISTEN TO MY CRY FOR HELP AND
ANSWER ME WITHOUT DELAY. FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, I BEG TO GIVE YOU 25% OF THIS MONEY.

IN YOUR REPLY, SEND YOUR TELEPHONE AND MOBILE NUMBER FOR MORE DETAILS. THIS
TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED WITH 7 WORKING DAYS.
BEST REGARDS,
WILLIAMS DUNCAN

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