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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: martinwillam@webmail.co.za
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 03:32:12 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY

FROM ENGR
MARTIN WILLIAM

DEAR SIR,

I WISH TO INTRODUCE MY SELF AS ENGR MARTIN WILLIAM
DIRECTOR
CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE GOLD INVESTMENT CORPORATION SOUTH
AFRICA.
SIR, I WISH TO INTRODUCE YOU IN TO A BUSINES, WHICH
INVOLVES A TRANSFER OF $ 28.5 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH BELONGS
TO ME. I GOT THIS FUND THROUGH OVER INVOICED CONTRACT WHICH
I AWARDED TO A GERMAN COMPANY ON THE 4TH JANUARY 2004.

I WISH TO SEEK FOR YOUR ASSISSTANCE IN TRANSFERING THIS
HUGE AMOUNT IN TO YOUR COMPANINES ACCOUNT OR PERSONAL
ACCOUNT FOR PROPER INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF MY PRESENT STATUS AS A GOVERNMENT WORKER WHICH
DENIES ME HAS SUCH HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MY POSSESSION
WHILE STILL IN SERVICE.

PLEASE KINDLY ADMIT MY PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH AND KEEP IT

AS CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN BOTH OF US. I HAVE ARRANGED WITH
ONE OF THE TOP BANK OFFICIALS IN THE RESERVED BANK HERE FOR
ONWARD TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY YOU ACCEPT TO ASSIST ME IN THIS
DEAL. THE FUND IN QUESTION IS PRESENTLY LODGED IN ONE OF
THE FINANCIAL SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR
SAFE KEEPING.

I WILL DISCUSS WITH YOU ON WHAT WILL BE YOUR REWARD FOR
YOUR KIND CO-OPERATION AND ASSISSTANCE UPON YOUR KIND REPLY
TO THIS MAIL BEFORE WE PROCEED ON THE TRANSACTION. IF YOU
ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, KINDLY FORWARD YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE
AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION ALSO TO ENABLE ME
CONTACT YOU.

I WILL BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU IN GOOD FAITH.
ANTICIPATING YOUR KIND RESPONSE.
ENGR MARTIN WILLIAM

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