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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Martin Lander" <m_lander112@msn.com>
Reply-To: martin02lander@02.pl
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:51:10 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION

My Dear Friend,

I feel very sorry to interrupt your peace since you
are not expecting to receive any mail from me.
However, I was obliged to do so due to the importance
and urgency of the message. I crave your indulgence,
and want to reassure you that I mean well and that it
is only for our mutual good. So please do not be
embarrassed or suspicious.

My name is Dr Martin Lander. I am a social worker with an
international
Non-Governmental/Voluntary organization based in Cotonou Republc Du Benin. I
am the Project Director
in-charge of Iraq crises presently. Our organization,
through the local NGO and other Agencies and in
partnership with the United Nations High Commission
for Refugees(UNHCR, UNESCO, etc) works and sponsors
development projects and social services
in some third world/ developing countries, assistance
and re-settlement of victims of natural disaster,
civil wars and Refugees, displaced/oppressed children
and minority people around the world.

>From the field operations and recent projects in Iraq,
we discovered a fairly huge amount of money in a house
suspected to be own end by one of Sadam's
Parliamentary members. It is now at our disposal and
control to use it as we deemed fit. My chief
Accountant, Auditor and I have considered making use
of the opportunity as the money can freely be diverted
without any problem and invested for our personal
purpose. We agreed and have already diverted the money
to Europe through diplomatic means, with a proposal to
invest it to protect our retirement days, which is not
far from now.

Now, I am in need of a reliable and trustworthy person
or company oversea who I can confidently work with. My
work does not permit me to own a foreign bank account
or any personal business until retirement. I have the
honor to confide this information in you and to
request for your pleasure to assist to receive and
secure the money in your account, pending our
retirement from service. Please understand that my
approach to you is based only on my positive reasoning
and on the belief that you will not disappoint or
betray me at last. The amount is fairly huge and we
have agreed that on completion of the deal, you will
retain some reasonable percentage of the money as
compensation for your assistance.

By any standard, the money is cool and legal and
therefore quite safe and secure for all of us.
However, to consider our official positions,
reputation and integrity,especially, the opportunities
in the business itself, it is very necessary that all
due care be taken so that we do not miss the
opportunity due to carelessness. You are therefore
expected and advised to display high degree of
maturity, responsibility and understanding in handling
this information.

There would be a meeting in Europe where we diverted
the money to, for further discussions and to
consummate the transaction at once. I will give you
all the details in my next mail when you have
indicated your interest and commitment to work with
me. Always remember that this is the highest
confidence and trust any person can repose on the
other, especially when it is considered that we do not
know ourselves before. I hope you will honor me too.


Best regards,

Martin Lander Dr.


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