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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: "WILLIAMS MARK" <williamsmrk4@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 04:10:23 +0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME

Dear Sir/Madam,

This mail will definitely be coming to you as a surprise, but I must crave
your indulgence to introduce myself to you.

I am Dr. Williams Mark, a supervisory manager at the Standard Trust Bank
Plc, Nigeria. However I got your contact through the International web
directory. Recently we discovered a Dormant Account with a huge Amount of
Money Valued USD18, 400,000.00 (Eighteen Million, four hundred Dollars Only)
that belong to one of our late Customer MR. THONIJS ANDREES who died in a
plane crash. During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my
Department came Across a very huge sum of money belonging to MR.THONIJS
ANDREES from Beverwijk, Netherlands, who died along with his wife, MRS.AGNES
ANDREES and Daughter, MS. FILIPA ANDREES so the fund has Been dormant in his
account with this Bank without Any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his Family or relation before Our discovery to this development.

The Banking law here stipulates that if such money remains unclaimed for 25
years, it will be forfeited to the Bank Treasury as an unclaimed bill. It is
only a foreigner that can stand as a next of kin and it is upon this
discovery that I decided to contact you to collaborate with you to pull out
this dormant fund. In order to avert this negative development. On behalf of
my trusted colleagues we now seek your permission to have you stand in as
next of kin to Our late Customer so that the fund will be released and paid
into your account as the beneficiary's next of kin now that the bank is
still expecting a next of kin or relative of the deceased, MR. THONIJS
ANDREES.

We could have done this deal alone but because of our position in this
country as civil servants, we are not allowed to operate a foreign account
and that would eventually raise an eye brow on our side during the time of
transfer since we still work in this bank, this is the actual reason why we
required a second party or fellow who will assist us forward claims as the
next of kin and also provide either an existing bank account or to set up a
new Bank a/c immediately to receive this fund, even an empty a/c can also
serve for this purpose.

However, on smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to
25% as gratification for your assistance to us, while 5% will be set aside
to take care of expenses on both sides that may arise during the time of
transfer and also for telephone bills, and the remaining 70% will be for me
and my colleague.

What I want from you is for you to act as the deceased next of kin. I have
in my possession, all the necessary Documents to successfully accomplish the
operation. Bear in mind that this proposal is 100% risk free. Further
Information will be given to you as soon as I receive your positive
response. I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your
wish. For confidentiality please contact me on my personal email account:
williamsmrk4@yahoo.com

Best Regards,
Dr. Williams Mark
Standard Trust Bank Plc
(williamsmrk4@yahoo.com)


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