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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "James Willaims" <jameswilliams200112@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:59:43 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY

Dear Friend,

I am James Williams , Bank Manager  of Equity Bank Nigeria.
PLC, Lagos Branch. I got your contact from the Internet
when I was searching for whom I will entrust this business
into his/her care. Actually, I know it will come to you as
a surprise because we have not met either physically or
through correspondence.

I have a very urgent and confidential business proposition
for you for our overall mutual interest. On December 6th 2003,
an American Oil Consultant/Contractor with the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation,Mr. Henry Gardner made a
numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve Calendar months,
valued at USD$25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million 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, Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation that Mr. Henry Gardner died 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
Mr. Henry Gardner did not declare any Next Of Kin in all
his official documents, including his bank deposit paper work.

This sum of USD$25,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank
and the interest is  being rolled over with the principal sum
at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it.

According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 2 (two)
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria
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 Mr. Henry Gardner so that the fruit
of this old man labor will not get into the hands of some
corrupt Government Officials.

This is simple;

1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your
full names and 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 are going to be employing the services of an Attorney
who his going to be helping us in procuring the necessary
documents, such as the Death Certificate/Probate Letter and
the Affidavit of Fund Representation in your favor for the
transfer.

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 in my proposal I am going to be
compensating you with 20% of the total money transfered
into your bank account at the end of the
transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and 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.  jameswilliams200112@yahoo.com

God bless you.

Mr.James Williams
Diamond Bank. PLC
Lagos,Nigeria.

 

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