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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 STEVENS <johnstevens@fsmail.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 01:37:58 +0200
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

Hello

My name is JohnStevens Director of Affairs in the South African Reserve Bank in South Africa. I am
presently here in the Netherlands on a course; I am contacting you regarding a Business transfer of a
huge sum of money from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will
make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all modalities have being put in place
for a hitch free transaction.

PROPOSITION:
One of my colleagues is the account officer to the deceased named Gerald Welsh who died in an air
crash along with his family in an Egyptian airline 990 with other passengers on board. (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/world/americas/502503.stm ) You can confirm this from the bbc website.
Since his death, none of his next of kin is alive to lay claims for this money as his heirs because they all
died in the same crash.

We cannot release the funds from his account unless someone applies for the claim next of kin to the
deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines. Upon this discovery, my colleagues and I seek your
permission, to have you stand as the next of kin to the deceased, as all documentation have been
carefully worked out by us for the funds US$ 20,500,000.00 million (Twenty million five Hundred
thousand United States of American Dollars) to be released/transferred in your name as the beneficiary
/next of kin.

After five years, the money will be called back to the banks treasury as unclaimed bills and the fund
shared amongst the directors of the bank. So, it is on this note that my colleagues and I decided to seek
for your assistance to stand as the beneficiary rather than allowing the bank directors to share the money
among them at the end of this fiscal year. It may also interest you to know that we have secured from the
probate and order of Mandamus to locate any of the deceased family/beneficiary. Please acknowledge
your willingness to assist by furnishing me with the following:
1. Your full names and company name, in other to process the documents on your name.
2. Your bank details.
3. Personal telephone and fax number

At the end of the transaction your will be compensated with 25% of the total sum for your assistance,
While the balance will be for my colleagues and I for investment purpose in your country because we
intend to invest our share of the money in your country for a minimum of two years under your
supervision. If this proposal is acceptable to you, please endeavour to contact me immediately via my
email: johnstevens@fsmail.net

Please note that this transaction should be kept confidential between both parties. I am looking forward
to your prompt response. God bless you.

Regards,

John Stevens

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