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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY <mr_mike_williams15@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mr_mike_williams2@walla.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 19:23:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I AM WAITING YOUR REPLY.


FROM: MR. MIKE WILLIAMS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
COMPANY.

My Dear Friend,

I feel quite safe and satisfy dealing with you in this mutual beneficial transaction.

Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication.

However, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such. l also guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may think of and I encourage you to read it to the end so that you can understand it very well.

I am Mr. MIKE WILLIAMS, Executive Director in charge of Claims and Indemnity of Prudential Insurance Company.

I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached to this deal for the benefit of both of us.

The Management and the Legal / Treasury Department of this Prudential Insurance Company in a recent meeting, recommended that the account of MR. ROBERT FINKELSTEIN, who maintained a Life Assurance Policy, should be declared Dormant hence moving his unclaimed benefits funds to the Treasury according to our Banking and Financial law.

Recently, I came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person (MR.ROBERT FINKELSTEIN). He is a foreigner; unfortunately He is now late as he was amongst those that on the recent plane crash during his visit to London.

This man was our client and has Life Assurance Policy WORTH the sum of Forty Five Million United States Dollars (US$45,000,000.00). Right now, the fund is lying unclaimed in our custody and there is NO next of kin mentioned in his file and there is no how we can reach any of his relatives. All efforts made by us to establish contacts with any other of his relation have proved abortive and unsuccessful. His life Assurance Policy will expire in the next few months from the date of this letter.

Just last week we received an instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare to forward particulars of all unclaimed benefits that will expire in the next few months.

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country), it is officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as a next-of-kin.

I will use my exalted position in this Insurance Company to present you as his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin and the Money (US$45Million) will be Safely transferred into your own bank account in your country.

Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when replying this mail and I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your willingness to assist in this viable transaction. I will use my exalted position here to get all internal documentations to back up the claims.

The whole Procedures will last only 10 working days to get the fund retrieved successfully without trace even in future.
Please I need the following:

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONES AND FAX NUMBER
3. HOME ADDRESS/COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.
4. YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION

The transaction will be done successfully and smoothly completed via
Email and phone. Send your full name, address and telephone number to me via email urgently today so that I will call you for discussions. I PROMISE that you must be happy and shall rejoice greatly soonest for co-operating with me in this transaction.

After successful conclusion of this transaction, we shall share the money 50-50 (50% for you and 50% for me).

I await your good response today.

Thanks and remain bless.

I require you to maintain the confidentiality of this transaction because it is important due to the fact that I am still in active services to the Prudential Insurance Company.

Get back to me through my private email adresses: mr_mike_williams2@walla.com

Your earliest response to this matter is very important.

I AM WAITING YOUR REPLY.

Best Regards,
MR.MIKE WILLIAMS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PRUDENTIALINSURANCE COMPANY.

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Do you Yahoo!?
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__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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