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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: AZIZ AHMED <anthonymbekisa@gmail.com>
Reply-To: aziz.ahmed948@yahoo.co.za
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:46:19 +0100
Subject: Good day to you,

*Good day to you, I am Mr.AZIZ AHMED, the manager, Credit and Foreign Bills
of BIDVEST BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA. I am writing in respect of a foreign
customer whose name is Chung Timothy, (Mr.), who died in a plane crash
[Korean Air Flight 801] with the whole passengers on board on August 6,
1997. Since the demise of this customer, I personally have watched with
keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one
has come to claim his funds of USD$8.5,000,000.(EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND US DOLLARS) which has been with our branch for a very long time.
On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next
of Kin as no one has come up as his next of kin. And the banking ethics
here does not allow such money to stay long in the bank else it will be
return to the bank escrow account as unclaimed funds. In view of this I
got your reference in my search for someone I will use in this great
opportunity. For your assistance I am willing to give you 40% of the total
amount. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you letter of
application, which you will type, sign and send back to me to enable me
start the process. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this
business is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all
modalities for the smooth and easy transfer of this fund has been
finalized, this transaction will be completed within five banking days. I
now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased as every other arrangement has been concluded by me. Please go
through this message carefully and if you are interested, kindly notify me
urgently via my private email addresses: (aziz.ahmed924@yahoo.co.za
<aziz.ahmed924@yahoo.co.za>) Phone: +27 737251921, as time is of great
essence in this transaction. Upon your acceptance to assist me I shall
provide you with more information. Sorry and over look this business
proposition if it offends your moral and ethic values. Have a wonderful
day, Mr.AZIZ AHMED*

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