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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: John William <doctorjohnwilliam@gmail.com>
Reply-To: doctorjohnwilliam@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:48:53 -0700
Subject: CAN YOU HELP OUT

With Due Respect.
Attention
I sourced your email from a human resource profile database in the chamber, my name is DR JOHN WILLIAM.
Account officer to late Mr. Morris Thompson from
America who is an gold merchant Agent here in Ghana,
a well known Philanthropist before he died. He made a Will stating that $10.5Million dollars (Ten
Million five hundred thousand US) should be given to a
citizen of our choice overseas. I have made a random draw and your e-mail address was picked as the
beneficiary to this Will.
I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank because they have issued a notice
instructing me been the account officer to produce the
beneficiary of this before end of this 2012 else the money will be credited to the Government treasury
as per law here. It is my utmost desire to execute
the Will of my late client Mr.Morris Thompson since he is no more alive, both wife Thelma Thompson, and
daughter Sheryl Thompson.
if you are interested, you are required to contact me immediately to start the documentation process
with the help of a legal practitioner.

I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a
date limit, please act fast. I await your urgent
response.

Meanwhile I request on your return mail, kindly re-send me your data's information's:
1. Your Name in Full:
2. YourAddress:
3. You’re Occupation:
4. Your Nationality:
5. Your City
6. You’re Telephone with
7. Mobile number:
8. Your Age: ys

9. Your Gender:
For Security Reason Please keep all communication via:
doctorjohnwilliam@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: