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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: "Mr. Dowell Willas" <axxxgxxx@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dowellwillas@Safe-mail.net
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:52:32 -0500
Subject: Urgent Business Reply



INVESTMENT MANAGER
1 Lime Street,
London EC3M 6,
UNITED KINGDOM.

URGENT TRANSACTION

My name is Mr. Dowell Willas, and I work in the International operation
department in a Local Bank here in London. On a routine inspection I
discovered
a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL. Of £32,000.000.00{Thirty
Two Million
British Pounds sterling} on further discreet investigation, I also discovered
that the account holder has long since passed away (dead) leaving no
beneficiary
to the account.

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former
operator of
the a/c is a foreigner and from Korea, in particular and I am certainly sure
that he is dead, and nobody will come again for the claim of this money. A
foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the account Holder;
therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction.

I will provide the necessary information needed in order to claim this money,
But you will need to open an account where this can be transferred. If
interested send your private Telephone No. And Fax number including
full details
of the account to be used for the Deposit I wish for utmost confidentiality in
handling this transaction as my job and the future of my family would be
jeopardized if it were breached.

Although, necessary steps has been made regards to this issue confidentially
with key Bank Personnel?s and they have agreed to help if I found honest and
capable person to handle this transaction to enable us transfer the
value Asset
out from UK.

I want to assure you that the transaction is without risk if due process is
followed accordingly. Finally, I will give you 35% for your corporation.

I look forward to a favorable response from you.

Yours

Mr. Dowell Willas

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