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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: "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRUDENTIAL PLC" <mrpaulsteve@prudentialinsurance1.net>
Reply-To: executivedirector205@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 19:37:48 +0000
Subject: FROM: MR. PAUL STEVE

FROM: MR. PAUL STEVE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

My Dear Friend,

Good day and God bless you. I feel quite safe and satisfy dealing with you
in this mutual beneficial transaction. Though, this medium (Internet) has
been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still
remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication.
However, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as
such. I guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may
think of and I encourage you to read it to the end so that you can
understand it very well for the benefits of both of us. I am Mr. Paul Steve,
Executive Director in charge of Claims and Indemnity of Prudential Insurance
Company. I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be
attached to this deal for the benefit of both of us.

The Management and the Legal / Treasury Department of this Prudential
Insurance Company in a recent meeting, recommended that the account of MR.
ROBERT FINKELSTEIN, who maintained a Life Assurance Policy, should be
declared Dormant and confisticated hence moving his unclaimed benefits funds
to the Treasury according to our Banking and Financial law. Recently, I came
across a huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person (MR. ROBERT
FINKELSTEIN). He is a foreigner and unfortunately He is now late as he was
amongst those that Died on the recent plane crash during his visit to London
with his entire family. You can confirm through this website below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

This man was our client and has a Life Assurance Policy WORTH the sum of
Forty Five Million United States Dollars (US$45,000,000.00). Right now, the
fund is lying unclaimed in our custody and there is NO next of kin mentioned
in his file and there is NO HOW we can reach any of his other
relatives. All efforts made to establish contacts with any member of his
relation has proved abortive and unsuccessful. His Life Assurance Policy
will expire in the next few months from the date of this letter. Just last
week we received an instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare to forward
particulars of all unclaimed benefits that will expire in the next few
months.

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to
myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country), it is
officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as a
next-of-kin. I will use my exalted position in this Insurance Company to
present you as his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin
and the Money (US$45Million) will be safely transferred into your own
bank account in your country. Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home
Address when replying this mail and I will give you more information as soon
as you indicate your willingness to assist in this viable transaction. I
will use my exalted position here to get all internal documentations to back
up the claims. The whole Procedures will last only 5 working days to get the
fund retrieved successfully without trace even in future. Please I need the
following:
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. HOME ADDRESS/COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.
4. YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION

The transaction will be done successfully and smoothly completed via email
and phone. Send your full name, address and telephone number to me via email
urgently today so that I will call you for discussions. I PROMISE that you
must be happy and shall rejoice greatly soonest for cooperation with me in
this transaction. After successful conclusion of this transaction, we shall
share the money 50-50 (50% for you and 50% for me). I await your good
response today. Note that you did not need to travel to any country to
receive this Fund because the US$45Million will be transferred into
your nominated bank account either in your country or any country for your
choice. Thanks and remain bless. I require you to maintain the
confidentiality of this transaction because it is important due to the fact
that I am still in active services to the Prudential Insurance Company.

Your earliest and urgent response to this matter is very important. I AM
WAITING YOUR REPLY TODAY.

Kind Regards,

MR. PAUL STEVE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY


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