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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "kelvin smith" <kelvin_smith05@msn.com>
Reply-To: kel_smith07@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 09:13:47 +0000
Subject: ATTN:PROPOSAL!!

Mr.KELVIN SMITH
 
PRODIGY SECURITY & BASIC FINANCE CORP 
 
HEADQUARTERS:
 
ALKMAARSEWEG 45
 
1721 AV, HAARLEM
 
THE NETHERLANDS.
 
E-mail:
kel_smith07@yahoo.co.uk 
 
We Want To Transfer To Abroad $US9.5m ( Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) from A Security Company, Prodigy Security And Basic Finance Corp.. I am contacting you in a non official capacity. The purpose of my writing to you is because my colleagues and I are searching for a foreign business partner who is in a position to assist us with our urgent business proposal, as time is not on our side. A partner, who understands what confidentiality means and who has the necessary facilities we require in embarking on this important venture. I Want To Believe That You Will Never Let Me Down Either Now Or In Future.

I Am Kelvin Smith,Head of Account Department, Prodigy Security And Basic Finance Corp During The Course Of Our Auditing, I Discovered A Floating Fund In An Account Opened In The security Company In 1990 And Since 1993 Nobody Has Operated On This Account Again. After Going Through Some Old Files In The Records, I Discovered That The Owner Of The Account Died Without an [Heir], Hence The Money Has Been Floating And If I Do Not Remit This Money Out Urgently It Will Be Forfeited For Nothing.
The Owner Of This Account Was Mr. Michael D. Owen, A Foreigner, And An Industrialist, He Died Since 1993 And No Other Person Knows About This Account Or Anything Concerning It. The Account Has No Beneficiary And My Investigation Proved To Me As Well That Mr.Michael D. Owen Until His Death Was The Managing Director, Lolito Fuchs, GMBH.
I Am Contacting You As A Foreigner Because This Money Can Only Be Approved To A Foreigner With A Valid International Passport, Drivers Licence And Foreign Account Because The Money Is In Us Dollars And The Former Owner Of The Account Mr. Michael D. Owen Is A Foreigner.

I Am Revealing All This To You With The Belief That You Will Never Let Me Down In This Business. Please Reply Urgently For Me To Tell You The Next Step To Take.You Should Forward Your Telephone And Fax Numbers.
You Will Have To Give Me The Assurance When We Meet That This Money Will Be Intact Pending Our Physical Arrival In Your Country For Sharing And Disbursement Of The Fund Which Will Be 20% For Your Assistance, 70% Will Be For Us While 10% Will Be Set Aside To Take Care Of All The Expenses That Will Be Incurred By Both Parties During The Course Of The Transfer.
I Look Forward To Your Earliest Response Through My E-Mail Above.
 
Best Regards,
Mr. Kelvin Smith
 

 
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