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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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Fraud email example:

From: "smith martin" <sadliqsani1@msn.com>
Reply-To: smithmartin_2@lycos.com
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 06:32:32 +0000
Subject: Good Day

Good Day,
I am Barrister SMITH MARTIN (Esq.), the Personal Attorney to a Foreign
Contractor, who worked with a Multinational Oil Firm in Nigeria. On the 31th
of january 2001, my client, a Mexican National, late Engineer Gabriella
Chavez,
an oil Merchant / Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria, who
unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight
261 which crashed into the Pacific Ocean not far from Los Angeles, on
January
31 2000, including his wife (Thelma) and their only daughter (Sheryl), when
they were heading to San Francisco and Seattle from Puerto Valletta, Mexico
for a vacation .You shall read more about the crash on visiting this sites.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2000/02/01/national0743EST0575.DTL

All occupants of the Aero plane unfortunately lost their lives. Since then
I have made several inquiries to Several Embassies to locate any of my
clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail. Then I have
to contact you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my
client
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where
these
huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about
US$ 27 Million has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin, relatives
so that the fund left will be transferred or have the account confiscated
within the next twenty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$27 Million can be paid
to you and then you and I can share this money. 50% to me and 45% to you,
while 5% is mapped out for expenses. All I require is your honest and
co-operation
to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this Business will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law and be further informed that our interest and security
had been considered
before you were contacted, so be rest assured and feel free to go into this
transaction with us.

I will want you to send to me on your return email the following information
for the transfer in your favor.
1) Your full name
2) Your contact Address
3) Your private phone, mobile and fax numbers for easy communicating for
each
others I await your kind response, Please In the event of your inability
to handle
this transaction.
Kindly inform us ASAP so that we can look for another Reliable and
trustworthy person who can assist in this Respect. And note that the nurture
of this deal needs utmost confidentiality as contrary will lead to failure..
Awaiting your urgent and favorable response. And forward your reply to
(smithmartin_1@lycos.com)
for an urgent attention and security reasons.

Best Regards,
SMITH MARTIN Eqs.


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