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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: "Barr.Tom Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.tomwilliamsesq@i12.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:26:00 +0100
Subject: You Have A New Message ??.

Good Day
I am Barr.Tom Williams, From (Tom Williams Chambers) I wish to introduce to you a project that would be of immense benefit to both of us. Being an executor of wills, it is possible that we may be tempted to make funds out of our client's situations, when we cannot help it, or left with no better option.
The issue I am presenting to you is a case of my client who willed $12.8 millions to his next-of-kin. It was most unfortunate that he and his next-of-kin died on the same day in an auto-crash. I am now faced with indecision about who to pass the funds to. However, I don't belong to that school of thought which proposes that the funds of unlucky people be given to the government.
I therefore seek for your assistance in presenting you as next of kin to the deceased. Please give your response to this email via : (barr.tomwilliams@i12.com) I will reveal other details upon your response to this email and as soon as we establish correspondence.
Reward is negotiable.
Yours in Service
Barr.Tom Williams.
 

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