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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: John Lawsson <johnlawsson1015@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: johnlawsson506@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 15:29:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Assistance Needed


Dear ,
I am John Lawson, the only son of late Dr Andrew Lawson who was a dealer on crude oil and precious gem stones. He died as a result of brief illness,but before his death,he called my attention beside his sick bed and gave me some informations with a document covering $10million which he deposited in my name as a next of kin,in a private security company in Ghana.

I am only 22years,i do not have any experience of handling/investing such an amount.Therefore,I humbly seek for your consent to assist me claim this fund from the security company and invest it properly in your country.

You will take 40% of the total sum for your assistance,while 5% is for any expenses that may incure during the claim,Then you will keep 55% for me in your account.Please i am looking forward to hear from you,so as to give you the proceedures.
Thanks and God bless you,

Yours faithfully,
John Lawson.


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