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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: "Kenneth Bwala" <kenbwala01@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:43:14 -0500
Subject: FROM BWALA



DEAR ,

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP THAT I KNOW WILL BE OF MUTUAL
BENEFIT TO US.
MY NAME IS MR KENNETH BWALA AND I WAS THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE LATE
WIFE OF CHIFE OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, THE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,
WHO DIED IN SPAIN WHILE UNDERGOING SURGERY OPERATION.

WHILE WE WERE IN SPAIN, SHE GAVE ME A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO KEEP, INCLUDING
LARGE SUM OF MONEY AND TRINKLETS, BUT UPON HER DEATH, I HAVE ALL THAT IN MY
POSESSION NOW AND MY AIM OF WRITTING YOU NOW IS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF MY
ARRENGEMENT IN KEEPING THESE MONEY FOR OUR USE AS I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
RETURN THE MONEY BACK TO NIGERIA, CONSIDERING THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST OFFICIALS
OF THE GOVERNMENT OWNING FOREIGN ACCOUNTS AND IN INVOLVED IN MONEY
LAUNDERING. PLEASE BE INFORMED, THAT OUR PRESIDENT WAS NOT AWARE OF HIS
WIFE'S PLANS.

PLEASE, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THIS PLAN OF MINE, DO LET ME
KNOW SO THAT I WILL GIVE YOU THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY NEED AS
THE MONEY AND THE TRINKLETS ARE STILL IN SPAIN IN A PLACE WHERE I CANNOT
DISCLOSE NOW FOR SECURITY REASONS UNTIL I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE WITH YOU
CONCERNING THIS BUSINESS.

HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TRULY YOURS,

Dr BWALA.


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