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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: Martin Benjamin <martbejamin@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 10:14:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT


Dear Sigwald Schust,
Thanks for your email,No you do not have to pay tax, THIS IS THE NEW ARRANGEMENT AND INFORMATION ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION.

I've make special arrangement how we will transact this business without any problems, I only need you to obey all my instructions for there's no way this transaction can be executed without your assistance as the beneciary of the fund and basically, we have two options in this transaction;
I will like if you can come down to a nearby country Spain, where the Courier Company I am making the arrangement have their office.
I will raise a cheque/ draft containg the total amount in question in the name of the company and pay it in, in the name of the Courier Company. Then we will go to the Courier Company in Spain to claim the money and spread into different Bank of our choice.

Let us meet in Spain where am making the arrangment.

I hope to hear from you soon.

God Bless you.

Best Regards
Your Brother and Family,
Mr Martin Benjamin.

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