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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Mike Marlowe <mikemarlowe2000@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:59:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE


Attn my good friend,

I highly apologies for the inconvenience this proposal might cost to your personality. I got your contact information in your country trade search engine which i needed an urgent assistance from you. Having introducing my self to you, my name is Mike Marlowe, Auditor General of a Bank in United Kingdom. During the course of auditing, I discovered a floating fund in a domiciliary account opened in 1989 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account. I discovered that the fund deposited belong to one of our major customer who is from your country and was an oil engineer in Shell Petroleum Company here in United Kingdom, died in Egyptian plane crash when he was traveling with his family for summer trip.
Since he died the bank has been searching for his relative to come and claim the huge amount of money deposited in our bank but unfortunately we could not locate any of his relative. And now if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be re-channel to the bank reserve as UNCLAIM BILL since nobody did not come across to claim the fund. I want you to assist me to get this fund out of the bank because you bare the same similar surname with the decease. This transaction is hundred percent risks free. All I want from you is your trust and confidence for us to get this fund out of the bank.
Your urgent response is highly needed. As soon as i hear from you, I give you more details about this transaction and your percentage including the contact of our bank. Please endavour to send your direct phone number for easy access in communication.

Best regards,
Mike Marlowe






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