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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: "Fred Azu" <fred@globalcomworld.com>
Reply-To: fredazu205@tsamail.co.za
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 18:23:17 +0000
Subject: My Dear Friend,

VERY URGENT PROPOSAL,
DIAMOND BANK PLC., ACCOUNTS DEPT.,
PLOT 23/27 ADEMOLA CRESCENT
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS..NIG.

My Dear Friend,

I am Mr Fred Azu, an accountant with Diamond Bank,Plc. I gathered
your information from the internet. The business I am about to introduce
is basedon sheer trust and with a sense of purpose.I am contacting you
to assist in repatriating the sum of $20M u.S dollars.The money and
property left behind by Engr. Morie Lynn who had an On the 21st of April
2000, Engr. Morie Lynn, his wife and their two Children were involved in
a car in a remote village called Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. All
occupants of the car Unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassyhere in
Lagos-Nigeria to locate any of Morie's extended relatives, this has also
proved
unsuccessful to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you
as his account officer to work with you before they get confiscated,
frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits
were lodged. Particularly,the Diamond Trust Bank of Nigeria Plc where the
deceased had an account valued at about twenty Million United States
Dollars (US$20,000,000:00).

Now the management has issued a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the account frozen. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over 2 years now,I seek your consent to present you as the
next of kin to the deceased since you are a foriegner so that the
proceeds of this account valued at $20,000,000:00 can be paid to you and
then you and I can share the money. 60% to me and 30% to you, while 10%
will be maped out for any miscellaneous expenses that mightbe incure in
the cause of this transaction.

I have all the necessary legal documents to back up this claim, and
this I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in the
wrong hands. All I require is your honest and sincere co-operation to
enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this transaction
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
and I from any breach of the law. Reply me true my
e-mailaddress(fredazu205@tsamail.co.za)
Look forward to hear from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr Fred Azu.


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