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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: "DAVID WEST" <davidwest_ld@msn.com>
Reply-To: davidwest_ld2005@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:02:32 +0000
Subject: From Union Bank .

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
34 Marina Lagos, Nigeria.
Email:davidwest_ld2005@yahoo.com

Attn. Sir,

Compliment of the day and how is life generally with you? Of course it is my
humble wish to solicit and crave your indulgence to make this project
request fora joint business transaction which I hope will not come to you as
a surprise, hence I plead for your pardon.



I am Mr.David West, the manager in the headquarters of union bank of Nig.
Plc. Lagos. I have
an urgent and confidential business proposal for you.


On April 15, 2001, an American oil consultant/contractor with Nigerian
National Petroleum
corporation (NNPC) Mr. Peter Bush made a numbered time(fixed) deposit for
twelve calendar months valued at US$2,000,000.00(Two Million US Dollars) in
my
branch.


On maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarded address but got
no reply after months we
send a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employee
(Nigerian national petroleum
Corporation) that Mr. peter Bush died in a plane crash accident. On further
investigation, it was clear that he died without making a will. All attempts
to trace his next of kin were fruitless.


I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Peter Bush
did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents
including hisdeposit document in my bank. The total sum US$2,000,000.00 is
still in my bank as dormant account. No one will ever come forward to claim
it. According to Nigerian banking law, after four years,the money will
revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government. If the account owner is
certified death and nobody comes forward to claim it.

My proposal is that I am looking for a foreigner who will stand in as the
beneficiary/next of kin. This is
simple.All you have to do is to immediately send me the details of a bank
account anywhere in the world, your address, your telephone and fax numbers
for me to arrange payment of the money in your favour as the relation of
late Peter Bush who died in a plane crash and the money will then be paid to
you legally for us to share in the ration of 60% for me 30% for you while
the remaining 10% will be set aside for expenses re-imbursement.


I know that a transaction of this magnitude would make anyone apprehensive
and worried. But I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the
day. A bold step taken shall not be regretted, I assure you.Please do be
informed that this business transaction is 100% legal and there is no risk
involved. I am using my position as the bank manager and connection in the
bank here to arrange the payment in your favour as the relation of Late Mr.
Peter Bush. We shall employ the services of
an attorney to obtain all necessary documents and letter of administration
in your favour for the payment. If you are interested, please reply
immediately through my private email address or call
me for discussion as soon as you receive this mail and be rest assured that
this transaction could be most profitable for both of us. Please do not
expose this deal if you are not interested because if you do, it will take
me out of seat.

Please reply in strict confidence to the contact number above. As soon as i
receive your response, i
will send you some documents which you will show to our bank when demanded.

Sincerely with warm regards,
David West.


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