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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Chris Amara" <chrisamara_77@msn.com>
Reply-To: chris_amara1@walla.com
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:15:47 +0000
Subject: HELLO HENK PLEASE IT IS URGENT !!!

FROM THE DESK OF
MR CHRIS AMARA,AUDITING/ACCOUNTING UNIT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS-NIGERIA

Dear Henk,

I know that this message will come as a surprise to you, hence we do not
know each other, though It was a divine on how i got your contact but for
the purpose of introduction, I am Mr Chris Amara, the Chief Auditor of
African Development Bank Lagos, Nigeria.With due respect and regards , I
have decided to contact you for a business transaction that will be
beneficial for both of us.


During our auditing/investigation in our bank recently, my department came
across a huge sum of money belonging to an America Oil consultant/
contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
Mr.Ronald Lake made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$22,700,000.00 (Twenty Two Million, Seven Hundred
Thousand Dollars) in this bank.Upon maturity I sent a rountine notification
to his forwarded address but got no reply.After a month, we sent a reminder
and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Ronald Lake, of Corte Madera,California
unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261
which crashed on January 31st 2000, including his wife Joyce Lake.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list

Therefore, on further investigation, I found out that he died without making
a WILL, and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore
made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Ronald Lake did not
declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum of
US$22,700,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over
with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one has ever come forward
to claim it. According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of(five) years,
the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody
applies to claim the fund.


Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as
the "next of kin" to Mr.Ronald Lake.There is no risk at all, the paperwork
for this transaction will be done and my position guarantees the successful
execution of this transaction.Upon your response, i will forward the text of
application for payment you will re-send to the bank for immediate
processing of the approval. I shall provide you with more details on what to
do. Please on your acceptance to workout this transaction, do provide me
with your full name,address,private fax/phone number so that it will be used
to prepare the necessary documents which will put you in place as the next
of kin and the money will be transfered into any bank account in any part of
the world which you will provide as the beneficiary/next of kin.


At the conclusion, 65% of the fund will be for me, 25% for you, 5% for less
previleged both in Africa and in your country and the remaining 5% will be
set aside for expenses both parties might incurred during the transfer
process.


Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us. If you are interested
and know that you are trustworthy and will not betray me or sit on this
money after it's successful transfer into your account, please reply or call
me on my private number 234-8039695444 immediately.
Awaiting your urgent reply.


Yours Sincerely,
Mr Chris Amara.


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