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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: "Mr Eric William" <eric_william117@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:55:52 +0100
Subject: Good Day To You

Good day;
I am really sorry to disturb you I got your email address while searching for My fathers business partner. MY NAME IS ERIC WILLIAM,FROM THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. NOW A REFUGEE IN DAKAR SENEGAL AT (U.N.H.C.R.) CAMP GROUND 2nd LIBERTY ZONE AVENUE. MY LATE FATHER CHIEF NJOKU CANOTE .
WAS ONE OF THE SENIOR LEADERS OF LIBERIANS UNITED FOR RECONCILIATION AND DEMOCRACY ( LURD )WHO DIED RECENTLY .I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY IN LEAVING AFRICA FOR A DEVELOPED COUNTRY . I HAVE THE SUM OF ($ 12.000.000M USD ) TWELVE MILLION US DOLLARS
WHICH I WANT TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY.THIS MONEY WAS DEPOSITED BY MY LATE FATHER IN A FINANCE HOUSE,HERE IN DAKAR SENEGAL WITH OFFICE IN LONDON.WHICH I WAS MADE THE BENEFICIARY AND NEXT OF KIN AS THE ONLY SON OF MY PARENTS. BECAUSE OF THE
PRESENT SITUATION OF WAR IN MY COUNTRY, MY AGED MOTHER ADVICED ME TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY FOR SECURITY AND SAFETY REASON, AND ALSO TO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY I CAN TRUST WHO CAN ASSIST ME TO TRANSFER THE MONEY OUT OF DAKAR SENEGAL.
I HIGHLY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY AS I HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME . I WANT TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY IN YOUR COUNTRY . I AND MY MOTHER HAVE PROPOSED TO INVEST A PERCENTAGE IN A BUSINESS WITH YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY
SO YOU CAN GIVE US ALL ASSISTANCE WE MAY NEED . PLEASE YOU CAN MAKE IT CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OUR FUTURE IS DEPENDING ON THIS MONEY FOR A BETTER LIVING AGAIN, ALL THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE DEPOSIT OF THE MONEY IN THE FINANCE HOUSE ARE WITH ME HERE IN
DAKAR SENEGAL. I WISH YOU SEND ME A REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECIEVE THIS PROPOSAL SO I CAN KNOW YOU BETTER IN ORDER FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. FOR DETAILS I AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
Mr ERIC WILLIAM


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