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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: "BARRISTER JONES WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jw748004@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:13:42 +0100
Subject: I need you to acknowledge this mail.

Hello,

This is a follow up to the previous notification to which you are yet to
respond. Be informed that the execution shall only be effected after the
approval of his personal physician and I his Legal Adviser.

On-behalf of the Executors of late Mr. Richard Douglas' WILL, I hereby
inform you that you are stated as a beneficiary to a bequeath of
US$6,750,000.00 (Six Million seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars)
lodged with a finance firm as contained in the last
testament of the deceased. The late Richard Douglas until his death was a
farmer and invested in poultry and rice farming. He established himself as
a wealthy farmer in Asia where he exported rice and other poultry produce.
He was a very dedicated man and a great philanthropist during his
lifetime. He involved himself in helping people by giving investable loans
in agriculture and other ventures.

Late Richard Douglas died on 8th June 2009 at the age of 65 and was buried
on the 20th of June 2009. He was an American, lived in Asia all through
his active years but later moved down to England due to long-term illness.
In his last words as stated in his last testament that "it
is my desired wish to see that the poor and less privileged are given
assistance by any means and limit this token could go, especially in Asia,
Africa and South America having seen it all myself". He therefore advised
that this amount be" invested and then part of the proceeds be used in the
work of Charity".

Therefore, I request that you forward your full name, direct phone numbers and
forwarding address via my email box to enable us file necessary documents
of claims at the probate registry for the release of this fund to you.

Please acknowledge receipt of this notification this time.

Yours faithfully,


Jones Williams Esq.
Freedom Chambers
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 703 185 7260

Anti-fraud resources: