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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: "williams akintola" <williamsakintola@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 09:42:53 +0000
Subject: ACT AS NEXT OF KIN

From: AKINTOLA WILLIAMS
Subject:ACT AS NEXT OF KIN
4/6 ADETOKUNBO ADEMOLA STREET
P. O. BOX 75369
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS NIGERIA
 
Dearest Friend,
 
First, I must solicit your confidence in this Transaction;this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret.Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. I have decided to contact you because of the urgencyof this Transaction.
 
Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you, I am Mr.Akintola Williams the Manager of Remitant Department LEAD MERCHANT BANK NIGERIA PLC.I came to know of you in a private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidentialTransaction, which involves the Transfer of huge sum of money to a Foreign Account requiring maximum confidence.
 
A Foreigner, Late Engineer Chung Timothy, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria until his death in a ghastly air crash that happened on August 6th, 1997 (Korean Air Flight 801). Late Timothy's had in his domicilliary account with us an equivalent of US$12.5million as closing balance.
 
The last Annual General Meeting (AGM) decided and expected that this closing balance of US$12.5million will be claimed by Late Engineer Timothy as foreign Next of Kin or be donated as unclaimed to a trust fund for arms and ammunition at Military War College here in Nigeria. This idea is most unresonable hence I have decided to take this step. Fervent efforts made by the LEAD MERCHANT BANK to get in touch with any of the Timothy's family or relatives, all have proved abortive.
 
As a result of this, our Chairman and Board of Directors are in the process of declearing the fund "UNCLAIMABLE".
As an insider and actual Manager of theAccount, I have decided to contact you to act as the Late Chung Timothy's Next of Kin and Beneficiary in order for you to recieve this fund as inheritance claim for the benefit of both parties.All documentation required to perfect this will be in place once you indicate your acceptance, foryour role in the transaction. You will keep 35% for your self, 5% to reimburse us for any expenses we may incur in the course of the transaction, including our phone bills or travel expenses and the 60% left will be for me.
If this proposal is OK and you wish to take advantage of the trust I here bestow on you and your company kindly get to me immediately.
 
I will advice that you furnish me with the necessary details for me to make the official application of claim on your behalf as the next of kin and beneficiary of this money with out wasting time.
 
Here are the details I will need to make the application.
 
(1)Your Full Name.
(2)Your Contact Address.
(3Your phone & Fax Number for effective communication.
(4)Age, & Occupation.
(5)Religion.
 
This is to effect the swift transfer of this fund into your account in less than (7) working days.Note that your positive or negative response will be most appreciated to enable me know the way forward. to assure you very well you can go to http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list/ when you receivethis letter.
 
Thank you and God Bless.
 
Best regards,
 
AKINTOLA WILLIAMS

 

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