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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mag Williams" <mag_williams@ghayesassociates.com>
Reply-To: margretwilliams2001@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2005 00:54:15 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY

FROM: MRS MARGRET WILLIAMS
14, Cameroon House, Wyndham Road,
Camber well, S.E. 5 OUJ. London UK.
Email: margretwilliams2001@yahoo.co.uk

I am Mrs. Margret Williams a British citizen and I am 23years of age.
I work with a Finance and Security Company in East London UK.

I am the accounting officer of Mr. Nelson Owen who died in the recent
bomb blast which occurred in London on the 7th of July 2005.

Mr. Nelson Owen who is our Client with Account Number UBS 101-720-4 has
left the sum of Two Million one hundred and twenty thousand pounds
(£ 2,120.000.00)for deposit, this Amount is yet to be credited in his
favour before he died on the recent bomb blast in London.

I want you to open an account with my Bank so that I can credit this
amount to you while you will receive 40% of the fund while I and my
colleague will have 60%.

The name of the Finance and Security Company and all relevant
informations will be given to you, when you contact me on my
private Email: margretwilliams2001@yahoo.co.uk

Treat with outmost confidentiality.

Yours sincerely,
MRS.MARGRET WILLIAMS


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