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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: "Clifford Smith" <cliff_smith01@msn.com>
Reply-To: smithhero@mail.ru
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 19:24:33 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

Let me formally introduce myself for clarity purposes, I am Clifford Smith one of the Directors of a Security and Finance company here in  Amsterdam the Netherlands. I am contacting you because of a business concerning a huge sum of money from a deceased deposit in our company here in Netherlands and happens to share the same last name with you.

Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of it.

 

I actually decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction. I discovered an abandoned deposit in our company owned by one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family as a result of an automobile crash.

He actually deposited this funds amounting to US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen million United States dollars), for safe keeping in our company here in Amsterdam. Company file records shows that the fund was actually for a project our late costumer wanted to start in the near future in the USA, before his sudden and untimely death.

As such since his death none of his relations or next-of-kin has come forward to lay claims for this property as the heir, this is just the reason why I have contacted you.

 Our company cannot release the property unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to  the deceased as indicated in our operating guidelines.

 

Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin

to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the funds

to be released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin. It may interest you to know that

I have secured from the probate an order  of mandamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following.

 

1. Beneficiary full name and address

2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers

3. Occupation and position

4. Nationality and Date of birth

5. Marital status

 

These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favor before you can personally appear for the claim. I shall be compensating you with 30% of  the total money while 10% will be for any expenses incurred the rest will be mine on  final conclusion of this project.

 

I wait your urgent reply by email,

 

Best Regards,

Clifford Smith.

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