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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: "terry ken" <terryken3@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 02:08:40 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT

KEN TERRY
ACCOUNTING OFFICER
CLYDESDALE BANK PLC.
30 ST VINCENT PLACE
GLASGOW G1 2HL
SCOTLAND.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr Ken Terry, the Account officer with CLYDESDALE BANK
PLC.SCOTLAND UNITED KINGDOM. I have an urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you. On January 1, 2003, a United Arab Emirates Merchant, Mr
Abraham Zachary, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenthy five Million Dollars only) with
my bank .
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After some months, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his business partner that Mr. Abraham Zachary died from an
automobile accident while on a business trip.


On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,
and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr.Abraham Zachary did not declare
any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his
Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.

The said amount is still intact in my Bank and the interest is being rolled
over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come
forward to claim it. I am contacting you since you are a foreigner to stand
as the next of kin to Mr. Abraham Zachary.


I would want you to provide to send to me as a matter of urgency your full
names and address,phone and fax numbers so that the attorney will prepare
the necessary documents and affidavits that will put youin place as the next
of kin.
We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and
notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any
part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of
this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid
into your account for us to share in the ratio of 75% for me and 20% for you
and 5% for Expenses Incurred in the course of the transaction.


There is no risk at all as all the paperworks for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and with my position as an accountant,guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction.If you are interested, please reply
immediately to my email box
terryken@asiamail.com


Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your
confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

You should observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country.
All further correspondence should be directed to my e-mail box
terryken@asiamail.com
Thank you in anticipation of your urgent reply.

Best regards.
Ken Terry
Account Officer

_________________________________________________________________
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