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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: "Benard Duke" <benard_duke4@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 06:24:54 +0000
Subject: urgent reply

PRIVATE DESK OF MR BENARD ABIKU
REGENT BANK PLC.
No: 2 REGENT AVENUE
LAGOS ISLAND, NIGERIA
MAIL- benard_duke4@yahoo.com
TELE -234-806-081-3739

ATTEN: PLEASE,

I am MR BENARD ABIKU, Bank Manager of REGENT BANK PLC Lagos Branch. On
June 5th 2001,an Oil Consultant/Contractor with the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation, Engr. JOSEF KANE,made a (fixed) deposit for twelve
Calendar months, valued at USD12,000,000.00 (TWELVE MILLION,Dollars) in my
Branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwardd address
but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers, Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation that (Engr. JOSEF KHANE}died with his his entire family of
five,wife and three children from an automobile accident.

On further investigation I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all
attempt to trace his next of kin were fruitless.I therefore made further
investigation and discovered that Engr. JOSEF KHANE, did not declare any
next of kin in all his official documents, including his bank deposit file.
This sum of USD$12,00,000.00 is still in the Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year, No one have ever
come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 6
(six) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian
Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal
is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin of
Engr. JOSEF KHANE so that this will not enter will not get into the hands of
some corrupt government officials.
1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names, address,
telephone/fax number,Bank Account, and Bank Address so that the attorney
will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in
place as the next of kin.

2) We shall employ the services of an Attorney for drafting and notarization
of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.

3) A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin
of Engr. Emmanuel Dudley, The money will be paid into your account for us
to share in the ratio of 55% for me and 40% for you. 5% is to re-imburse any
incidental expenses we might have incured during the cause of actualising
this transaction.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately .Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand. Please observe
utmost confidentiality,
and be 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.

Awaiting your urgent reply through the above emaill address,
God bless you.

Mr BENARD ABIKU
REGENT BANK PLC
LAGOS,



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