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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: "Dr Michael Williams" <drmichaelwilliams22@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: drmichealwilliams@o2.pl
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 05:23:12 -0600
Subject: FROM DR MICHAEL WILLIAMS (REPLY FOR MORE DETAILS)

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
GENERAL COMPUTING,
PACKAGING/COURIER OFFICE
TAFAWABELEWA SQUARE, ABUJA – NIGERIA
FROM THE DESK OF DR MICHAEL WILLIAMS
CBN PACKAGING/COURIER OFFICER

CONFIDENTIAL
I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME I AM
DR MICHAEL WILLIAMS; I WORK IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND
COURIER DEPARTMENT.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH THE INTERNET
WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR A GOOD PERSON FOR THIS MUTUAL BUSINESS.I WANT YOU
TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN EUROPE WHICH I SHIPPED
THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS
$11 MILLION DOLLAR ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT
KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.

ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME YOU’RE MAILING ADDRESS YOUR
PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX. AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL HAVE
30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY. FOR
SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK
TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.

NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL FOR
SECURITY REASONS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR MICHAEL WILLIAMS


Anti-fraud resources: