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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: "ALLAN SMITH" <prudentialcompany1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 09:28:43 +0000
Subject: DEAREST FRIEND.

FROM:MR. ALLAN SMITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR;
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

Send Reply To: prudentialinsurancecompany_plc@yahoo.de

My Dear Friend,

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this mutual beneficail transaction.
Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach
you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured
medium of communication. However, this correspondence is purely private, and
it should be treated as such. I also guarantee you that this deal is hitch
free from all what you may think of. I am MR. ALLAN SMITH, Executive
Director incharge of Claims and Indemnity of PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company. I
am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached
to this deal for the benefit of both of us.

The Management and the Legal / Treasury Department of this PRUDENTIAL
Insurance Company in a recent meeting, recommended that the account of MR.
ROBERT FINKELSTEIN, who maintained a Life Assurance Policy, should be
declared Dormant and confisticated hence moving his unclaimed benefits funds
to the Treasury according to our Banking and Financial law. Recently, I came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person (MR. ROBERT
FINKELSTEIN). He is foreigner, unfortunately He is now late as he was
amongst those that was Killed in the recent plane crash during his visit to
London, as you can confirm through this website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

This man was our client and has a Life Assurance Policy WORTH the sum of
Forty Five Million United States Dollars (US$45,000,000.00). Right now, the
fund is lying unclaimed in our custody and there is NO next of kin mentioned
in his file and there is NO HOW we can reach any of his other relatives. All
efforts made by us to establish contacts with any other of his relation has
proved abortive and unsuccessful. His Life Assurance Policy will expire in
the next few months from the date of this letter. Just last week we received
an instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare to forward particulars
of all unclaimed benefits that will expire in the next few months.

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to
myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country), it is
Officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as a
next-of-kin. I will use my exalted position in this Insurance Company to
present you as his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin
and the Money (US$45Million) will be Safely transfered into your own bank
account in your country. Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home
Address when replying this mail and I will give you more information as soon
as you indicate your willingness to assist in this viable transaction.

I will use my exalted position here to get all internal documentations to
back up the claims. The whole Procedures will last only 5 working days to
get the fund retrieved successfully Without trace even in future. Please I
need the following:

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. HOME ADDRESS/COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.
4. YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION

The transaction will be done successfully and smoothly completed via email
and telephone. You don't need to come to my country. Send your full name,
address and telephone number to me via email urgently today so that I will
call you for discussions. I PROMISE that you must be happy and shall rejoice
greatly soonest for cooperation with me in this transaction. After
successful conclussion of this transaction, we shall share the money 50-50
(50% for you and 50% for me).

I await your good response today. Thanks and remain blessed. I require you
to maintain the confidentiality of this transaction because it is important
due to the fact that I am still in active services to the PRUDENTIAL
INSURANCE COMPANY. Your earliest response to this matter is very important.

I AM WAITING YOUR REPLY TODAY.

Kind Regards,

MR. ALLAN SMITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; PRUDENTIAL Insurance


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