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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: Stephean_Lawrence <stephean.lawrence@cantv.net>
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 02:46:52 +0100 (BST)
Subject: From Stephean & Williams


From Stephean & Williams
Dear One, 
Good day and God bless, we are Stephean and Williams lawrence Sierra Leone. We are writing you from Rep of LOME TOGO where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father sold his company and took us to a nearby country Togo where he deposited (US$12, 300, 000.00 Million Bank here in  LOME TOGO Please, we got your profile from this site and due to the current political situation in AFRICANS we are seeking for your assistance lift this money out from TOGO to your safe account  your country if you will not betray us when the money gets into your country for investment?so we can  also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to offer you 20% of the total sum for your help. Please, Kindly contact us   for more details.  or you can call us with this number +2285247063
Best Regards
Stephean and Williams

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