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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: "kenneth richen" <kennethrichend@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 11:17:18 +0000
Subject: PARTNERSHIP REQUEST

From Mr. Kenneth Richen

Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tel: +27837524329

Attn: Sir,

I am Mr. Kenneth Richen, a manager in a financial institution. This mail is
written to soliciting your assistance to be presented as next of kin to our
late customer (Full biographical background information will be provided
upon hearing from you). He made a fixed Deposit valued at USD7M (Seven
Million United States Dollars Only) in our bank. As his account officer, I
have the Certificate of Deposit, and its Agreement in his file with me.

Unfortunately he lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed
into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31,1999 (View:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm He left no clear
beneficiary as Next of Kin to be contacted in case of death on the
Certificate of Deposit, CD Agreement, except some vital documents related to
the Deposit which I have in my possession. As his account officer, The
Governing Body of the bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet to
provide the Next of Kin to lay claim to the Fund.

Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent
to be presented as the next of Kin so that the Government as
"unclaimed/Abandoned Deposit" will not confiscate our late customer’s Fund.
Every documentation to successfully, present you as the surviving next of
kin will be arranged by me, since I have all information on the background
of this customer. For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free
to make immediate contact with me by giving me your details, phone and fax
numbers, complete name and address for further information related to this
matter, as we will be able to discuss what entitlement each of us will gain
from the transaction, which cannot be discussed at this material time.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we expect your
prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Kenneth Richen

DISCLAIMER

This message contains privileged and confidential information expressly
intended for the use of the Email address OWNER. If you are not the intended
recipient of this message, you must not distribute copy or take action in
reliance of the contents. If you have received this message in error, please
notify the sender or ignore immediately.

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