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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: "Dr Willison Van" <Wn_eric@yahoo.com.sg> (may be fake)
Reply-To: willison_a2@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:47:50 +0100
Subject: Please I Want To Hear From You

Dear Good Friend,
FOR YOUR ATTENTION ONLY
My name is Dr Willison Van, am the branch
and computer management department here
in our bank.I have only written to seek
your indulgence and assistance. I wish
to make a transfer involving a huge.
Amount of base USD15,000,000.00 {Fifteen
Million Million United States Dorlars} of
Late Mr MarkSmith out of the bank,he died since
1995till now the account remains dormat.
I am proposing to make this transfer to a
designated bank account of your choice.
Thus, for your indulgence and support, I
propose an offer of 20% of the total amount
to be yours after the transfer has been
successfully concluded.
Your full name and phone number/fax is need
in the first place. Kindly reply me stating
your interest, and I shall furnish you with
the details and necessary proceedures with
which to make the transfer progress.yourself.
I will send you all the document you may need
for the transaction when i received your reply.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Willison Van.


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