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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: dharrison@terra.com.mx
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 20:44:17 -0700
Subject: urgent assistance

FROM THE DESK OF:
DR DAVID HARRISON
ACB COMMERCIALBANK LTD.
PLOT 231 BLOCK4 IDUMOTA BRANCH,
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

I am Dr David Harrison, Bank Manager of ACB Commercial Bank, Idumota branch,
Lagos, R.O.N. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for
you.

On June 6, 1998, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Brain Claude made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit
for twelve calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty 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 Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation that Mr. Brain Claude 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. Brain Claude
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including
his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$30,000,000.00 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 Laws of Republic of Nigeria, at the expiration of 5 (five)
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria Government
if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand
in as the next of kin to Mr. Brain Claude 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
that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services
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 that 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 above. Upon your response,
I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone
and fax numbers for easy communication.

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 email address.banker_harrison2@yahoo.com
Thanks and regards.
Dr David Harrison

___________________________________________________________________________
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