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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: "monica walker" <m_walker_111@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mwalker1@o2.pl
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:43:57 -0800
Subject: PROPOSITION

From:Ms.Monica Walker
575 Finchley Road
London Nw3 7BJ,U.K.
United Kingdom.

PROPOSITION:

My name is Monica Walker. I am a friend and a personal councilor to a former
credit manager and then the account officer of a foreigner named Gerard
St.Germain who died in an air crash along with his wife on the 31st October
2001 in an Egyptian airline 990,with other passengers on board. You can
confirm this from the website below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

My friend resigned from the bank months ago because of internal family
problems, but before his resignation he was managing the deposit account of
the late Gerard St Germain were he had access to some vital information as
to how the funds will be paid to the next of kin. Since his death, none of
his next-of-kin is alive to make claims for this money as his heir, because
they all died in the same accident, him and the wife, Yvette St.Germain (May
their soul rest in peace).The bank cannot release the funds from his account
unless someone applies for the claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as
indicated in their banking guidelines.


Upon this discovery, my friend asked me to look for a reliable person to
stand as the next of kin because he can not handle this directly since he
has worked in the bank, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a
next of kin to the deceased, as all documentations will be carefully worked
out by me and my friend for the funds valued (US$15,000,000.00)to be
released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin. After four years
the bank is permitted by law of UK to send the money to the treasury as
unclaimed bills and the money shared amongst the directors of the bank.

It is on this basis, that my friend asked me to seek for whom shall be used
as the next of kin/beneficiary to this funds rather than allow the bank
directors to share this money amongst themselves at the end of the year.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance to this noble offer
by furnishing me with the following information if you are interested.

1.Beneficiary name and address in order for me to to get a probate for the
transfer of the funds in your name.

2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers. For our personal contact and mutual
discussion.

Upon your acceptance, I shall give you my direct telephone number so that we
can discuss freely. We shall be compensating you with four million
dollars(US$4Million Dollars) on final conclusion of this project for your
assistance,US$1Million Dollars shall be for any unforeseen expenses, while
the remaining US$10 Million will be shared between me and my friend.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me
immediately, if not please disregard this email.

Regards,
Ms.Monica Walker


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