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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: "JESSICA WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investmentfinance904@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:48:18 -0400
Subject: I FOUND YOU

 
 
Dear Friend
 
How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transaction Last  For attempting to help me transfer the sum of Nine Million United State Dollars to your foreign account,
 
am sorry for presenting and using someone else in your name to get this transaction successful. Due to logistic reasons and your inconsistency to the other best known to you. Right now, I want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the bank draft check funds to someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture that have been over and successful.
 
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of ( One Million Eight Hundred Thousand United State Of America Dollars). I have authorized Mr. Henry Michael  where I deposited the money with a finance company to issue you An international certified Bank draft, cash-able at your bank or any where as your choice felt. My dear friend I will like you to contact Mr.Henry MICHAEL for the collection of this international certified Bank Draft Loaded the sum His name and contact address is as follows:
 
Name: Henry MICHAEL
E-mail::::investmentfinance904@yahoo.com.hk
 
Contact Director HENRY MICHAEL because At the moment am very busy here in the United kingdom because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand In London Finally remember that I have forwarded instructions to Mr. Henry Michael on your behalf to send Bank DRAFT SUM of (ONE Million Eight Hundred Thousand USD ONLY) to you as soon as you contact him without delay. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Use this code(ME-4980) as the subject of your mail to them for identification Okay?
 
Thanks God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon as you've getting my compensation and please do not get angry because that is what I have for now till I finish my project.
 
Best Regards.
JESSICA WILLIAMS

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