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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: "ZENITH BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sylvesterwilliams68@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:57:16 -0400
Subject: Good Day

Good Day,

My purpose of contacting you is about a transaction I will like you to assist me in carrying out in bank, if you dont mind getting involved. The transaction is as follows, Eng. Elmam Shahidi, who based here in Nigeria, deposited US $30 Million dollars in a fixed deposit account with bank which maturity Date was to be 1st of December 2013, unfortunately. Eng. Elmam Shahidi died. He has no next of kin stated when he deposited this fund and nobody has written or called a tour bank for Elmam Shahidi, and Eng. Elmam Shahidi work in OIL COMPANY.


I have made all the internal arrangements to transfer the amount in question out of the bank, but what I dont have is someone whom I will front as the next of kin to Eng. Elmam Shahidi so that the money can be claimed than allowing it there in his account unclaimed, it is based on this that you are being contacted. There is no atom of risk involved in this transaction because I have already arranged the entire internal and external banking network for this Process. Do indicate your interest in going into co-operation with me by email, so that I will advise you on how we can get this actualized immediately.

We shall regularize the approvals to reflect your name as the true beneficiary of the fund while the payment will be made into your account from the Government correspondence banks in London I will give you 30% of the total sum for your assistance, while my share of this business will be strictly for investment under your supervision for 2 years after we have signed a joint agreement. I guarantee 100% risk-free in this transaction, as we shall destroy all documents used for the transfer as soon as the fund hits your account.

Finally, do treat this information as a confidential one as I sincerely wait for your immediate response.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Sylvester Williams.

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