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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: Micheal Peters <petersafe_energy10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <micpeters20@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:33:54 -0600
Subject: HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT!!



My name is Micheal Peters and I am constrained to write you this letter after various enquiries I have made regarding sending out part of my savings to acquire a property in the United States of America and also in financing some of my goods being imported from Asia without going through raising a letter of credit, which has limited my imports when needed.
I have at hand total amount of $780,000, and would want to solicit your assistance in using your Equity Line of Credit Account. I need your assistance in purchasing a home in your country for about $300,000 and to raise the balance periodically in paying my customers directly for my imports hence we have restrictions on amount of money to be remitted at a time.
I spoke to my attorney on numerous possibilities, and he came up with this measure which of course will not attract any of the Government taxes in financing. Since the funds will go directly into your home equity line of credit. I have discussed with my wife, and we decided to write you for assistance, even though we have not met you in person.
We are willingly to work with you on a percentage that is reasonable as we will transfer the funds in bit to your home equity line of credit depending on your limit. Please notify us if you can be of assistance provided you have home equity line of credit account, we will not use a checking or saving account for this purpose at restrictions applying here.
We await your response.

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