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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Bridget Hughes" <hughes@ny.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 18:53:03 +0200
Subject: Re: Need Your Interest

From: Mrs. Bridget Hughes,
Bank of Bermuda (Isle of Man) Limited
12/13 Hill Street
Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1BW
British Isles.
Email: hughes@ny.com

Re: Prospective Partner,

How are you, your family and business? I suppose you are doing very fine and this correspondence meets you in good health.
Though, we have neither met nor done any business together before, I am hopeful that this would be the beginning of a lasting mutually rewarding union among us if you give this proposal a priority attention. I believe business is risk, contacts and people worthy of trust hence, the need for this correspondent.

Before the Tsunami crisis one of our very good customer Mr. Brian Wayne who was a business man made a number of fixed deposit with us with a total value of Sixty Two millions Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($62.7 million USD) now representing the total account balance of Mr. Brian Wayne in my branch of the Bank of Bermuda. Upon maturity during the first financial quarter this fiscal year there was an arrangement made to send the money to China because of the oncoming fiscal policy only to discovered that Mr. Brian Wayne and his wife died in Khao Lak beach during the Tsunami in Thailand early this year.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Mr. Brian Wayne did not declare his next of kin in the official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. He confided in me as his account manager that no one except his late wife and me knew of his deposit in my bank. Now, Sixty Two Millions Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is lying in my bank as abandoned and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that in accordance with the financial policies and regulations of this country, if an account is dormant for a period more than "Six Months", the account would be frozen, investigated and total account balance sent to sundry account for the benefit of the Government of this country - Isle of Man.
In avoidance of this therefore, may I crave your indulgence to represent the Next of Kin of Mr. Brian Wayne for the purpose of this transaction only which would be of immense benefit to both of us if pursued to its conclusion.

However, I would like to assure you at this junction that the success of this transaction is guaranteed provided that you cooperate with me and follow my directives hence, every arrangements to move these funds have been perfected but I need a trusted partner who talk less and worthy of trust. I am ready to consider your prize to the best of my ability and upon acceptance, a legally binding agreement shall drafted in association with this transaction and forwarded to you for your signature prior to the movement of funds in your names as would be agreed upon.
At the moment, all I need from you is your letter/E-mail of acceptance with your detailed "Resume Information" given me a better knowledge/understanding of my prospective partner which shall be forwarded to my legal adviser for necessary action to be taken as regards the legal documents of this transaction.
Your earliest response is appreciated to enable us conclude this matter is good time without delays.
Thank you for your kind attention in anticipation of your response ASAP.

Regards
Mrs. Bridget Hughes.


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