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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: BARRISTER GREG WILLIAMS <barristergregwilliams@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:53:16 +0000
Subject:


***CONGRATULATIONS****

Your email has won for you the sum of (800,000.00 USD) in our prestigious
Microsoft Lottery that is currently going on now.
Your email address was randomly selected with the aid of a computer billoting
system from all web users list of email address world wide.
You are hereby advise to contact FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WEST AFRICA with your
information below for delivery of your winnings:

Name:
Address:
Age:
Occupation:
Country:
Telphone Number:

CONTACT FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
Mr. Collins Oliver.
Email: fedex.deliveryunit2@live.com
Tel: +234 705 7019 111

Note: We have paid for the delivery and premium insurance fee of your winning
prize and you are to pay to the FEDEX courier Service the sum of Ninety-Eight
dollars only ($98 USD) for their security keeping fee, I would have paid this
but i do not know when you will contact them. am travelling out of the country
on a 3 Months vacation so make you contcat them immediately you receive this
mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay the Security
Keeping fee of
$98 for their immediate action. You should also let me know through email as
soon as possible. Once again
Congratulations

Barrister .Greg Williams.






Anti-fraud resources: