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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Joseph young" <jason@netlinkworld.org>
Reply-To: j_young19@katamail.com
Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 02:17:48 +0000
Subject: Hi,response required!

Dear sir/madam
 
I am JOSEPH YOUNG a British citizen working with a
security/finance company in the United Kingdom where I am
currently the assistant principal officer attached to
Investment/records department.
 
By virtue of my position,I am privileged to a very
confidential information about a deposited funds amounting
to $18.5m USD(EIGHTEEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) domicile in an account owned by a south
African nationalist,Mr Collins Mzizi who have been
confirmed dead from a very reliable source back home,
unknown to the management of my firm.
 
The interesting thing here is that there is no beneficiary
or next of kin attached to the funds and this implies that
no one would ever come and claim the funds. My intention
therefore is to seek for a serious minded beneficiary to
process this fund as the beneficiary/next of kin into his
account before it gets to the knowledge of my top
management staff who will confiscate the funds for there
personal use.I would make sure I provide all necessary
documents to present you as the beneficiary/next of kin to
the late Collins Mzizi,so you do not have to worry at
all.Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I
will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to
the late Collins Mzizi so that you will be able to receive
his funds,and thereafter you would be compensated
 
Furthermore,I wish to inform you that there would be a
reward for you after we have sucessrfully concluded this
project,30% of the ammount would be given to you and the
remaining 70% would be shared ammong me and a few other
officials in my firm.
 
Please if you are interested,send me your name and contact
details immediately via my email;(j_young19@katamail.com)so I
can give you further details regarding this project,upon
receipt of your mail stating your willingness to be of
assistance,i would send you my contact details so we can
discuss verbally.
 
Best Wishes
 
Joseph young.

 

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