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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: "Mr. Andren Smith" <andren_smith5@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: andren_smith4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 16:18:12 +0400
Subject: BUSINESSS PROPOSAL



Dear Friend
, I am Mr. Andren Smith. the Manager of Bank .I has urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On May 6, 1997, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the PETROLUEM CORPORATION Mr. HAFFEZ AL SADIQUE.Made a numbered time (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, valued at US$29,500,000.00 (Twenty Nine Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my branch. Upon maturity in 2000, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the petroleum corporation that Mr. HAFFEZ AL SADIQUE died as a result of torture in the hand of Saddam Hussein during one of his trips to his country Iraq. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. HAFFEZ AL SADIQUE. Did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. These sums of US$29,500,000.00 have been floating as unclaimed since 1997 in my bank as all efforts to get his relatives have hit the stones., , my proposal is that I want to seek your consent as a foreigner to stand in as the owner of the money as the next of kin to the deceased so that the bank will transfer the money to your designated account. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out. I have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so I are assuring you that the business is risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest be for me and for investment purpose, The sharing of the funds will be based According to agreement within you and me. As soon as I receive an acknowledgment of receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business proposal, I will furnish you with the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to suit both parties without any conflict. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you. ENDEAVOR TO SEND YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER IN YOUR REPLY TO THIS BUSINESS.

Best Regards
Andren Smith

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