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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Jenny Smith" <jennysmith_comethbk@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 18:45:12 +0000
Subject: COMETH INTERNATIONAL BANK of London

COMETH INTERNATIONAL BANK
of London
 

Dear sir/ma.

I am Mrs Jenny Smith. Bank Manager of Cometh International Bank of London, London Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On Feb 4, 2000 a FOREIGN Oil consultant/contractor with the UK National Petroleum Corporation London, Mr.MORRIS THOMPSON made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen- 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, the UK National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. MORRIS THOMPSON died along with his entire family of a wife and his only daughter in air crash, ALASKA AIRLINE FLIGHT 261. Below is the website to confirm.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.htm
On further investigation, WE found out that he died Feb 4th 2000 without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. MORRIS THOMPSON did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$15,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to London UK Law, at the expiration of 6 (SIX) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the UNITED KINDOM Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as an Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. MORRIS THOMPSON so that the fruits 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 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. We shall employ the service of two Attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A 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 the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. The Vide Remittance Code Number is : (MA791RBZ53AFR05) and
File Approval Number is: (GTB/UK07/TR9US/2005).

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, please reply immediately via the private email address below.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand 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 via my email: bellow:

E-mail - jenny.comethbk@ny.com

Best Regard
Mrs Jenny Smith

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