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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: "Markson Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marksonwillams@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 09:23:09 -0700
Subject: Please Assist.

Attention: Dear Friend.
 
I am Markson Williams, the head of International crediting department with
Trade Bank England. I know that this message will come to you as a shock
but I will advise that you treat it with trust and confidentiality.
 
During our yearly auditing this year we noticed that the sum of $10,800.00
( Ten Million and Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) have been
pending in our bank for the past 5years without any name/person attach to
it. Based on this reason my staffs and I had agreed to transfer the stated
amount out the bank for investments in your Country.
 
This is why we need your assistance to please be our partner and assist to
receive this fund into your account or any account of your choice. We had
agreed that your share will be 50% from the total sum, while you will
assist us to invest our 50% in your Country.
 
We shall advice on how to apply for the fund as the owner, while we shall
follow it up as your partners to make sure that an urgent approval is
giving by the bank management. We shall be expecting to read from you, to
enable us give you further advise on what to do, blessed time. Reply via
marksonwilliamb@yahoo.com
 
Thanks.
Markson Williams
Tel/Fax: +44 - 843 - 5241457

Anti-fraud resources: