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

Fraud email example:

From: elizabeth williams <elizabeth_w1007@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 09:14:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YES YOU CAN HELP ME



my dear Pastor,

i received your message and thank you so much for concern
towards assisting me to establish my inheritance to glorify the name of our lord. i really want to use this opportunity to know that my communication with you is the Lords doing for I fasted and prayed over this before getting in contact with you.

i want you to know that before the bank will be able to release these money in your favour i need to have my lawyer to prepare and sign my WILL testerment in your favour as the beneficiary of my inheritance with the BIAO bank here.

please kindly send me your phone and fax numbers, including your address so that will be able to give it to my lawyer and introduce you to him so that he will start drafting my WILL in your favour and after which i will personally send you a copy of it for your record purposes. but before then i will like you to tell me more about yourself and your family background for more confidence and trust building since i am going to entrust my inheritance under your control. i am waiting to hear from you.

yours sister in christ,

mrs. Elizabeth williams.


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