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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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Fraud email example:

From: Ki Uma <pacific51@frenzysoftball.com>
Reply-To: projects_ku@excite.com
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:43:56 +0000
Subject: Your confirmation!!!

My dear friend,

This mail might come as a surprise to you, especially since we have never met or discussed before. The truth is that I should have notified you first through a more confidential means even if it is at least to respect your integrity, please accept my humble apologies if I had caught you unawares.
I am a banker with one of the banks in Lagos, Nigeria. I have urgent and
very confidential business proposition for you. On June 6, 2000, a Zimbabwean farmer/businessman made a numbered time (Fixed) deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$15,320,000.00 (Fifteen million, three hundred and twenty thousand United States dollars) in my branch.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, I sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his co-farmer who previously had a joint account with him in my bank that he died in the land crisis in Zimbabwe. On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork.

This sum of US$15,320,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government {STATE} if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as his next of kin so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt officials. I will intimate you with the requirements that the attorney will need to prepare the necessary documents and affidavits,which will put
you in place as the next of kin upon your positive response.
We shall employ the services of two attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you, There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position in the bank guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.


Upon your positive response, I shall let you know who I am, the name of my bank and the name of the deceased. I will also provide you with more details and relevant documents that will put you in a clearer picture of this pending transaction.


Please observe utmost confidentiality, and 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.

Awaiting your urgent reply .

Yours faithfully.

K U



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