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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "barrister richard williams" <barr_richardwilliamesq1@msn.com>
Reply-To: barristerrichardwilliams@atmail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 07:55:26 +0000
Subject: MY CLIENT WANT TO INVEST WITH YOU

FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER RICHARD WILLIAMS.
PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.

DEAR SIR / MA,
MY NAME IS BARRISTER RICHARD WILLIAMS, I AM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND I HAVE A
CLIENT WHO IS INTERESTED IN INVESTING SOME GOOD MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY.MY
CLIENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT PERSON WHO HAS MANDATED ME TO
CONTACT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION.MY
CLIENT IS BY NAME MR. CHARLES TAYLOT AND HE WAS THE FORMAL PRESIDENTOF
LIBERIA FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. MR. CHARLES TAYLOR MADE ALOT OF MONEY
THROUGH GOLD/DIAMOND, OIL PROCEEDS DURING HIS TENURE IN OFFICE.

THE TRUTH OF THIS CASE IS THAT MY CLIENT DESPITE THE PROBLEM HE IS GOING
THROUGH NOW, HE STILL HAS A LOT OF MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION. WHICH HE INTENDS
TO INVEST OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRY LIBERIA. WHAT MY CLIENT NEEDS FROM YOU NOW
IS A RELIABLE ACCOUNT WHERE HE CAN TRANSFER SOME MONEY BUT MIND YOU, ALL THE
MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION CAN NOT LEAVE AT ONCE BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BUILD
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN SOMEONE WHO WOULD NOT EXPOSE HIS PLAN TO REMIT AND
POSSIBLY INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY. SO HE HAS AGREED THAT I SHOULD MAKE
ARRANGEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF US$100 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN
IF HE FINDS YOU RELIABLE, HE WILL STILL TRANSFER THE REMAINING US$100
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND YOU ARE FREE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF
COMPENSATION EVEN IF HE NTENDS TO INVEST THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE, DO NOT HESITATE TO INDICATE YOUR VIEW OF THIS REQUEST BY CONTACTING
ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL, SO THAT THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS CAN
BE MADE FOR THE MONEY TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION OF
MY CLIENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS REQUEST CAN BE KEPT A SECRET. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED. I HOPE MY CLIENT WOULD BE
HAPPY INVESTING WITH YOU.IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT
FORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.

THANKS,

BARRISTER RICHARD WILLIAMS


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