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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: "VLADIMIR BALAKOV" <vladimir_balakov@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 03:53:31 +0000
Subject: yukos oil offer plz respond

Dear Sir,

I am VLADIMIR BALAKOV and I represent Mr. Mikhail
Khordokovsky the former C.E.O of Yukos Oil Company in
Russia. I have a very sensitive and confidential brief from
this top (oligarch) to ask for your partnership in
re-profiling funds over US$19.5 million. I will give the
details, but in summary, the funds are coming via Bank in
europe to a more secured bank. This is a legitimate
transaction. You will be paid for your "management
fees".

If you are interested, please write back by this email and
provide me with your confidential telephone number, fax
number and email address and I will provide further details
and instructions. Please keep this confidential; we can?t
afford more political problems. Finally, please note that
this must be concluded within two weeks. Please write back
promptly. I will also suggest you visit these news sites on
the internet to be better informed about this project.


http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/13/51215.html


http://www.supportmbk.com/mbk/mbk_bio.cfm


http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Mikhail_B._Khodorkovsky



http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/moscow/khodorkovskyinterview.html



http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/75/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=75&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=M1IF&datatype=Person


http://mikhail_khodorkovsky_society.blogspot.com/


Write me back. I look forward to it.


Regards,


V.BALAKOV.


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