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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: "albert_g" <albert_g@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 05:22:47 -0600
Subject: GET BACK TO ME


AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
ECO BANK NIG PLC
LAGOS NIGERIA

Attn: Pls,

Taking into considerations that we have not met before, l know this mail although it's for good motive, may come to you as a surprise. l decided to contact you for this reason believing that you would be capable to work-out this deal for the interest of us based on what we have in the file here.

I am Dr. Albert Galut, the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of Eco Bank in west Africa with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction . During ourinvestigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on 21 april 2001 in a Auto crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.

Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself and partners to enable the whole plans and idea be Profitable and successful during the time of execution. The said amount was us$13M (thirteen million united states dollars). Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact a foreigner who will act as the next of kin to the deceased instead of the money going into the federal government coffers. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly,the Eco Bank Plc where the deceased had an account valued at about13 million united states dollars has issued a notice for the next of kin to surface or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 4 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased hence we claim this fund for our own benefits so that the proceeds of this account valued at 13 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

I will procure all necessary Legal documents furnish me with the below information to enable the bank transfer the fund to your bank account.

(1) Your phone and fax number for easy conversation

(2) Your age and occupation.

(3) Your full name and address

Once I hear from you I will tell you the next line of action.

Best Regards,

Dr. Albert Galut.

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