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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: "Peter Hall" <hallasb@mcdfigment.com>
Reply-To: peterhall44@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 07:14:16 -0400
Subject: GOOD DAY!

I am Peter Hall, head of group risk, of one of the multi-national banks here in London, England.

On Tuesday, 19 January, 1999, one Dr. H. Paul Jacobi, an American citizen, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, valued at tens of millions of pounds for twelve calender months in my Bank Branch.

Upon Maturity, we 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 company that Dr. H. Paul Jacobi was aboard the ill-fated EgyptAir Flight 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31, 1999 (http://www.greatdreams.com/PassEAir990.htm). After further investigation, it was discovered that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin proved fruitless.

The total sum is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principalsum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

In accordance with the British banking laws and constitution, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, the money will be reverted to the British Government treasury if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds.
Consequently, I shall present you as a foreign partner to stand in as the next of kin to the late Dr. H. Paul Jacobi.

If this interests you, please reply via my private email address hallasb@excite.com with your private telephone/fax number as I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law since I will be using my position as the Bank's head of group risk to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.

Further details shall be communicated to you upon receipt of your favourable response.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Peter Hall

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