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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: "lawyer malik" <zenith_bank02@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 01:19:34 +0000
Subject: quick response

From The Desk Top
of Zenith Bank Of Nigeria
Mr. lawyer malik
Dear Sir/madam
I am Mr. lawyer malik, Bank Manager of Zenith Bank of Nigeria, Lagos Branch.
I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.
On may 23 , 2000,an American Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed)
Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$40,000,000.00 (forty
Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification
to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.
Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I
found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his
next of kin was fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of
US$40,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.No one will
ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration
of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.Consequently, my proposal is
that I will like you as a foriegner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.
Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the
hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you
to provide immediately your full names and address so that the Attorney will
prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place
as the next of kin. We shall employ the service of an Attorney for drafting
and
notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any
part of the world which you will 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 60%
for me and 40% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately via the private email address below.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the 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 via my private holn_holn02@yahoo.com
Thanks BEST REGARDS
From lawyer malik
N.B PLEASE DO NOT FAIL TO INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER
WHILE REPLYING THIS LETTER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION..

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