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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: "fami fanala" <famifanala@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 07:25:56 -0700
Subject: thank you for your speedy response

# 50 FEMI BASHUA CRESCENT,
SURULERE, LAGOS - NIGERIA.

Dear sir ,

I am fami fanala the Personal assistant to Mr Pit ,a foreigner who used to work with Mekon Associates company in Nigeria, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a tran bombing in england
All occupants of the tran unfortunately lost their lives. Since thenI have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet,to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist me in repartrating the money left behindby my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the finance house where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the finance house where the deceased had an account valued at about 20 million dollars . The finance house has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official workingdays.since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 3years now.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and i can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require,I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me by my secured and confidential e-mail address at (smithbills2001@yahoo.co.uk)
to enable us discuss further.

Regards,

fami fanala


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