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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: "Private Email" <private_12email@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 15:38:05 +0000
Subject: Michael Collins

Attn:

RE: TRANSFER OF USD48,223,000. 00

I am Michael Collins, working in account management section in charge of
credit and foreign bills in a prime bank here in South Africa. I discovered
a dormant domiciliary account with Balance Of USD48,223,000. 00 (Forty Eight
Million Two Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand USD. On further investigation,
I found that the account holder died with his family on a fatal road
accident. The account has no beneficiary and no other person knows about
this account.

I am in close contact with the bank manager here who is my partner and is
willing to approve the transfer to any reliable and trustworthy foreigner
with foreign bank account because the former owner of the a/c is a
foreigner. The account has no writen or oral WILL attached to it. I will
provide the necessary information and documents needed in order to claim
this money if you agree to receive this fund in your account pending my
arrival in your country for sharing and on receipt of your Bank Account
Details where the fund will be transferred.

We will start with TWENTY MILLION USD. At the end, 70% will be for me, 25%
for you and 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred on both sides during
the transfer. There is no risk involved as every arrangement has been
perfected. We are affected by South African Civil Service Code of Conduct
Laws that prohibits Civil Servants from operating Private Foreign Accounts.
Your cooperation is highly needed.

Yours Faithfully,
Michael Collins

Tel: +874-762-533-360, Fax: +874-762-533-361
Email: m2005collins@myway.com OR m2005collins@hotmail.com

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