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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: sheikabdullah@executivemail.co.za
Date: Sun, 02 Jan 2000 14:51:37 +0200
Subject: PROJECT

ATTN: Dear

I am SHEIK ABDULLAH ,a staff of a Bank.I am writing following an
oppurtunity in my office that will be of imense benefit to both of us. In my
department we discovered an abandoned sum of 23 Million United States Dollars
(Twenty Three Million United States Dollars)
in an account that belong to one of our foreign customers,former
Guinea- Bissau army chief killed (General Verissimo Correia Seabre)IRefer you
to this website for its detail(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3720218.stm)
Now the bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for
the claim but nobody has done that.

I personally know that no-one will come because the only once that
knows of this where killed along side with him and being his finacial
advicer,I know all about this deposit.He agreed with the bank that he or the
foreign partner will come for the transfer of the funds on a later date.I seek
your consent to present you as the foreign partner to the deceased so that
the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or
shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you..


I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make. All I require is your honest Co-operation,Confidentiality
and Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the following:


1. Full Name
2. Your Contact Telephone and Fax Numbers

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.Note
that your delay in reply will give me room to source for another individual
for the same purpose.

Best regards

SHEIK ABDULLAH.

Anti-fraud resources: