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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "ali bello" <ali10bello@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:33:59 +0530
Subject: BEST REGARDS,

DEAR FRIEND,

ATTENTION:
FIRST I MUST SOLICIT FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION, THIS IS=20
BYVIRTUE OF IT=92S NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL. THOUGH I KNOW T=
HAT A=20
TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WILL MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED=
=20
BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DEAL.I HAVE=
=20
DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THIS TRANSACTION, LET ME STA=
RT=20
BY INTRODUCING MYSELF PROPERLY TO YOU.

I AM .MR ALI BELLO.THE BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER OF THE BANK OF AFRICA =20
HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO.I CAME TO KNOW YOU IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH=
=20
THROUGH THE INTERNET FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS=20
CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF HUGE SUM OF MONE=
Y=20
TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.

THE PROPOSITION:
A FOREIGNER WHO MET HIS DEATH IN =91KENYA AIR BUS=92 (A310-30) FLIGHT Ko4=
30
THAT CRASHED IN ABIDJAN,COTE D'IVOIRE BANKED WITH US AT THE BANK OF AFRIC=
A=20
ANNEX HERE IN BURKINA FASO AND HAD A CLOSING BALANCE AS AT THE END OF=20
SEPTEMBER 1999 WORTH $25.5 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND=20
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). THE BANK NOW EXPECTS A NEXT OF KIN AS=20
BENEFICIARY AND VALUABLE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY BANK OF AFRICA TO GET =
IN=20
TOUCH WITH ANY OF HASSAN'S FAMILY OR RELATIVES BUT TO NO SUCCESS. IT IS=20
BECAUSE OF

THE PERCEIVED POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE ANY OF THE LATE=20
DEPPSITORS NEXT-OF-KIN ( HE HAD NO WIFE OR CHILDREN THAT IS KNOWN TO US).=
=20
BASED UPON THIS DISCOVERY,WE HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL =
TO=20
YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS NEXT-OF-KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEAS=
ED=20
FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND =
WE=20
DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS.THE=
=20
BANKING LAWS AND GUIDELINES HERE STIPULATES THAT, IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED=
=20
UNCLAIMED AFTER FOUR YEARS, THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO THE BANK'S=20
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS.

THE REQUEST FOR A FOREIGNER AS NEXT-OF-KIN IS OCCASSIONED BY THE FACT=20
THAT,THE LATE DEPOSITOR WAS A FORIEGNER AND SO AN INDIGENE CANNOT STAND A=
S=20
THE NEXT-OF-KIN. IN ORDER TO AVERT THIS DEVELOPMENT,SOME OF MY TRUSTED=20
COLLEAGUES AND I NOW SEEK YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE YOU STAND AS NEXT OF KI=
N=20
TO THE LATE DEPOSITOR SO THAT THE FUND, US $25.5 MILLION WILL BE RELEASED=
=20
AND PAID TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY NEXT-OF-KIN. ALL DOCUMENTS AND PROVES =
TO=20
ENABLE YOU GET THIS FUND WILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE =
TO=20
PARTAKE IN THIS TRANSACTION. MY COLLEAGUES AND I IN MY DEPARTMENT HAVE=20
SECURED FROM PROBATE AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS TO LOCATE ANY OF THE DECLARED=20
BENEFICIARY (NEXT OF KIN) AND MORE SO

I AM ASSURING YOU THAT THIS BUSINESS IS 100% RISK FREE.MEANWHILE YOUR=20
PERCENTAGE SHARE SHALL BE 20% WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF A FORIEGN=20
ACCOUNT, 10% HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENCES WE MIGHT INCURE WHILE TH=
E=20
REMAINING 70% WILL BE FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I. AS SOON AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE=20
RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL, I WOULD FURNISH YOU=
=20
WITH THE NECESSARY STEPS TO TAKE BEGINNING WITH THE TEXT OF APPLICATION=20
WHICH YOU SHALL FORWARD TO THE BANK FOR SCURITY AND APPROVAL. PLEASE IF T=
HIS=20
IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT MAKE UNDUE OF THE TRUST I HAVE BESTOWED IN Y=
OU

BEST REGARDS,

MR ALI BELLO
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
BANK OF AFRICA ANNEX
OUAGADOUGOU,B.F.

_________________________________________________________________
Tried the new MSN Messenger? It=92s cool! Download now.=20
http://messenger.msn.com/Download/Default.aspx?mkt=3Den-in

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