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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "joseph miller" <josephmiller1960@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:30:42 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend




FROM DESK OF
MR.Miller Joseph
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
BANK OF AFRICA PLC.
COTONOU-BENIN.Branch
Dear Friend.

I know this email will reach you as a surprise, but need not to
worry as i am using the only secured and confidential medium
available to seek for foreign assistance in a business.
I am MR .Miller Joseph. from the BANK OF AFRICA. PLC,
COTONOU-REPUBLIC OF BENIN.Branch. This business request may seem
strange, but I crave your indulgence and pray you view it seriously
as I am convinced that you would be capable to provide me with a
solution to a money transfer.

On August, 2002, a retired Atlanta physician Mr George Brumley Jr
made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months,
valued at US$6,500,000.00(Six Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars )in my branch upon maturity. I sent a routine notification
to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from
his contract employers, that the Atlanta physician Mr George Brumley
Jr and his family died in the plane crash On july , 2003 . See site
below for confirmation of the death. May there Gentle soul rest in
peace.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html
On further investigation, I found out that he died alongside with
his next of kin and attempts to trace his further next of kin were
fruitless.

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting
his extended next of kin (family members)to come over and claim his
money because we cannot release it unless some body applies for it
as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our
banking guidlines and laws but unfortunately we learnt that all his
supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the
plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. This sum of
US$6,500,000.00 and the interest is being rolled over with the
principal sum at the end of each year . If no one ever come forward
to claim it according to African law, at the expiration of (two)
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr George Brumley Jr and
claim this funds so that the fruit of this old man's labor will not
get into the hands of some corrupt Government officials. This is
simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name and
address so that i can apply for an Attorney on your behalf who will
prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in
place as the next of kin.We shall employ the service of a probate
attorney for the drafting and notarization of the Will and obtain
the necessary documents and letter of probate administration in your
favour for the transfer.

Any bank account in any part of the world which you will provide
will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the
beneficiary/next of kin.The money will be paid into your account for
us to share in ratio of 40% for me and 40% for you and 10 % will
be set aside for expenses incured during the business while the
other 10% will be given to charity organisation. There is no risk at
all; the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and
my position as the banks branch Bills and Exchange Manager
guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.
If you are interested, please reply immediately via my private email
address below . upon your response, I shall provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand the
transaction.

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.
Please upon the receipt of this mail message, send to me the
following to enable me start the processing of the fund transfer:

1.) Your full name and address.

2.) Your private / official telephone and fax number.

Awaiting your positive response via my private email: millerjoseph@walla.com
And you can reach me on my private telephone.+229-9571-3752

Thanks and God bless,
MR Miler Joseph.

BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT:
BANK OF AFRICA PLC.
COTONOU-BENIN.Branch.
Email: millerjoseph@walla.com


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