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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: "......" <afrb@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 12:05:10 +0200
Subject: Can you assist us?

FROM: THE DESK OF DR.JAN DE VOS
EMAIL: (janvxx1@netscape.net)

DEAR FRIEND,
I AM DR, JAN DE VOS THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION
OF AFRICAN MERCHANT BANK SOUTH AFRICA WITH DUE RESPECT AND REGARD. I HAVE
DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU ON A BUSINESS TRANSACTION THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO
BOTH OF US AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION.

DURING OUR INVESTIGATION AND AUDITING IN THIS BANK, MY DEPARTMENT CAME ACROSS
A VERY HUGE SUM OF MONEY BELONGING TO A DECEASED PERSON WHO DIED ON 23rd
OCTOBER 1999 IN A PLANE 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 TO ENABLE
THE WHOLE PLANS AND IDEA BE PROFITABLE AND SUCCESSFUL DURING THE TIME OF
EXECUTION. THE SAID AMOUNT WAS US$20.MILLON (TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS). MEANWHILE ALL THE WHOLE ARRANGEMENT TO PUT CLAIM OVER THIS FUND AS
THE BONA FIDE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED, GET THE REQUIRED APPROVAL AND
TRANSFER THIS MONEY TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND DIRECTIVES
AND NEEDED INFORMATION WILL BE RELAYED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST ME AND ALSO BENEFIT YOUR SELF TO THIS GREAT
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. IN FACT I COULD HAVE DONE THIS DEAL ALONE BUT BECAUSE OF
MY POSITION IN THIS COUNTRY AS A CIVIL SERVANT IN THIS VERY BANK, WE ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT WOULD EVENTUALLY RAISE AN EYE BROW ON
MY SIDE DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFER BECAUSE I WORK IN THIS BANK.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL REASON WHY IT WILL REQUIRE A SECOND PARTY OR FELLOW WHO
WILL FILE CLAIMS AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE BANK AND ALSO PRESENT A FOREIGN
ACCOUNT WHERE HE WILL NEED THE MONEY TO BE RE-TRANSFERRED INTO ON HIS
REQUEST AS IT MAY BE AFTER DUE VERIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION BY THE
CORRESPONDENT BRANCH OF THE BANK WHERE THE WHOLE MONEY WILL BE REMITTED
FROM TO YOUR OWN DESIGNATION BANK ACCOUNT.

MAY I AT THIS POINT EMPHASIZE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AS I HAVE
MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DEAL BEFORE CONTACTING YOU.
ON SMOOTH CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 40% OF THE
TOTAL SUM AS GRATIFICATION, WHILE 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO TAKE CARE OF EXPENSES
THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFER AND ALSO TELEPHONE BILLS, WHILE 55%
WILL BE FOR ME.

PLEASE, YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP TOP SECRET AS I AM STILL IN SERVICE AND
INTEND TO RETIRE FROM SERVICE AFTER I CONCLUDE THIS DEAL WITH YOU.I WILL BE
MONITORING THE WHOLE SITUATION HERE IN THIS BANK UNTIL YOU CONFIRM THE MONEY
IN YOUR ACCOUNT AND ASK I TO COME DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR SUBSEQUENT
SHARING OF THE FUND ACCORDING TO PERCENTAGES PREVIOUSLY INDICATED AND
FURTHER INVESTMENT, EITHER IN YOUR COUNTRY OR ANY COUNTRY YOU ADVICE ME TO
INVEST IN. I SUGGEST YOU GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON MY EMAIL,
(janvxx1@netscape.net).

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR, JAN DE VOS

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