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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: "Walter Idris" <walteridris2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: walteridris1026@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 17:35:27 +0000
Subject: RE: CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

Attn. Sir / Ma,


I have interest of investing in your country as such I decided to establish
contact with you for assistance as soon as I am able to transfer my funds
Amounting to Millions Dollars for this investment, which is already with a
security company in Europe.

There are two basic things I would want you to assist me in;

(1) Helping by traveling to Europe as a front to collect these funds from
the security company in Europe. This is because of my inability to travel
out of the country where I am taking refuge at the moment with my wife and
children, which I will explain better, to you upon the receipt of your
acceptance.


(2) Helping me to carry out feasibility study on areas/choice of investment
you deem best for me. I retired as financial consultant and was the last
personal financial adviser to the ex- head of state before his demise and
have no intention of carrying out any further investment programmed in my
country for security reasons.

Enclosing your telephone and fax numbers. NOTE: you can also reply me via my
personal Email box walteridris1026@yahoo.com

For further information, do check these web links for more fact about the
business:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/741506.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/211324.stm


Yours sincerely,

Dr Walter Idris



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