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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: Saheed Usman <saheedusman8@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <saheed2usman@o2.pl>
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:20:17 +0100
Subject: I Awaits Your Reply



Auditing and Accounting UnitForeign Operations DepartmentCredit Bank,Cotonou Branch,Republic of Benin.My Dear Friend,I am Mr.Saheed Usman,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department of Credit Bank Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.This is a very confidential proposition for you.On August 21st 2003,an Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr.HARWOOD BRETT made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at Ten million two hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$10.2musd) in my branch.Upon maturity on August 20th 2004 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,we sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his employees,that Mr.HARWOOD BRETT was one of the passengers who died with his entire family in the ill-fated plane crash involving a UTA boeing 727 Chartered Flight that took off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on thursday 25th december 2003.For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visithttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm Further investigations,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.HARWOOD BRETT did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank.This sum of Ten million two hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$10.2 million USD) is still sitting in my Bank no one will ever come forward to claim it.According to the International Banking ethics,codes and Laws,at the expiration of four (4) years,the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.HARWOOD BRETT .This is simple,I will like you to respond immediately with your full names and contact informations so as I will send to you a specimen copy of an application form which you will refill and send to the bank putting claim over the said balance with the bank as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased.The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 45% for me and 45% for you, while 5% will be set aside for any expenses that may arise in the process of transfering this fund into your choosen/nominated bank account you wish to receive it, and 5% to the motherless and the needy in your country.Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant informations. Please send to me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication,oral discussion and more directives on what next to do.You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the arrow head of the investment.I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is totally risk free and legitimate.Awaiting your urgent reply.Thanks and GOD bless.Mr.Saheed UsmanPhone +229 93646011
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