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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: "peter john" <peter.john70@ig.com.br>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:50:12 +0100
Subject: MY DEAREST FRIEND,


MY DEAREST FRIEND,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING YOU THAT I HAVE FINALLY
SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO THE
BANK IN ITALY,WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND, WHOM BASED ON
AGREEMENT,HE RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT
AND EFFORTS.

PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC
COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED.

NEVERTHELESS, I CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS, THOUGH
IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT,BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH,

MEAN WHILE I HAVE A SUPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU, NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN MY
COUNTRY (BENIN REPUBLIC) HIS NAME IS WILLIAM GORDON,PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
YOU CONTACT HIM DIRECT

EMAIL ADDRESS: (williamgordon_20088@hotmail.com), AND ASK HIM TO SEND YOU
THE TOTAL OF $800.000.00, US DOLLAR TO YOU WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR
COMPENSATION,

I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM OF
EIGHT HUNDRED THOUNSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN A CASHIER CHEQUE WHICH I
SET OUT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION,

PLEASE I WANT YOU TO ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU
DID AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEDAY, BUT RIGHT NOW, I AM VERY BUSY IN
ESTABLISHING THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS,

SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH WILLIAM GORDON,

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,

BEST REGARD,
PETER JOHN

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