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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: "Mcdonald Collins," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mcdonaldcollins51@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:13:34 -0700
Subject: partnership is required

Mcdonald  Collins.
BG Group   PLC 
 
Thames Valley Park, Reading,
 
RG6 1PT, Berkshire,
 
United Kingdom.
 
Compliments,
 
I am Mcdonald  Collins.  an Account and finance manager, I am 45 years married with three children, I entrant your utmost reliance in this information's and the transaction as whole.
 
I am the Account/Finance manger of BG Group PLC a crude Oil exploration and global energy marketing Company that is based here in United Kingdom, I got your contact on my confidential search on the internet of your country data base in the search for a citizen of your Country, that should stand as my foreign trustee and partner on the claim and joint utilization of some  fund that is lying unclaimed in the Bank  account of a foreigner who is one of the foreign contractor of this organization that died of cardiac arrest here  in United Kingdom.
 
This fund value of (£12,500,000:00) Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds, came to exist as an unclaimed contract payment made by my Company into the account of this foreigner for a particular contract executed Four (5) years ago, ever since this payment was transferred into his account here in United Kingdom, every effort made to get hold of his next of kin or relative to put in claims on this contractor payment has not been fruitful. 
 
The banking rules/act here in my United Kingdom, have it that if a depositor has been confirmed dead and the account has been dormant and for a period of three (5) years and no one comes up for the claim of such deposit, the bank has the right to declare the fund unclaimed and be transferred into the government treasury, with a 40% commission.
 
On getting this information I have already sent an official letter to the bank informing that I have been in communication with the business associates of this contractor and that we have concluded arrangements to enable me present his details to follow up the claim process and this is the reason I have contacted you so that we can jointly take the bold step on the claim and joint utilization of this existing contract payment.
 
it is in this regard you are contacted  (partnership is required) as arrangement have been concluded to present you as the Beneficiary of this fund , pending my arrival there in your Country for sharing and utilization.
For effective actualization you are to forward to me the following information's;-
 
a) Your name in full
 
b) Your contact address in full.
 
b) Your confidential Mobile/cell Phone Numbers.
 
c) Your Telephone/Mobile numbers
 
d) Brief information on your profile, this should include your age, nature of Job and marital status.
 
I have agreed to offer you 40% of the total sum for this essential role, 5% has been ear-marked for settlement of any incidental expenses that may come up in the course of this transaction. Please note that the hope, confidence bestowed on you should not be over-emphasized and you are also to assist me in investing my share of 55% of the total sum while I am there in your country into real estate.
 
NOTE:ALL INFORMATION SHOULD REMAIN A TOP SECRET AS I AM STILL IN ACTIVE SERVICE HERE IN MY COUNTRY.
Please forward the anticipated information's by return mail as all Arrangements are in place for a hitch free transaction.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mcdonald  Collins.  
 

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