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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: Kenneth Philip <ken_philip56@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 08:38:28 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Letter(Reply soon).


MR. KENNETH PHILIP
(BRANCH MANAGER)
CO-OPERATIVE BANK
LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM
Tel:+44-7040125629
Email: ken_philip56@yahoo.co.uk

My Dear,

Please i need your urgent response as you read this letter. I am Mr. Kenneth Philip, Branch Manager of CO-OPERATIVE BANK LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. I made up my mind with trust to contact you for an urgent and very confidential business.
On the 9th of July 2002, Engr. Micheal a foreign Fiber Optics consultant here in London made several times hugesum (Fixed)deposit valued at US$7,800,000.00(Seven Million eight hundred thousand Dollars). Upon yearly maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After amonth, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers that helosthis life with his wife and his only son in the Bomb Blast at Kingcross underground Station while on holiday tour with his family.

On further investigation,I found out that he made no WILL outside his immediate family, and all attempts to trace his relatives was fruitless.
Itherefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank.This sum of US$7,800,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each month. No one will ever come forward to claim it. At the expiration of 5(five) years, the money will be reverted to the bank escrow account if no body applies to claim this fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foriegner to stand in as the next of kin to late Engr. Michael since you have thesame last name with him so that the fruitsof this Man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt top fficials of this bank. This is simple as long as am here to direct and provide you with every information required.
There is no risk at allas all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. Once the fund is approved and released to your account, you will be entitled to 50% while 50% remains for me.
Please feel free to provide me with your full names, address and direct telephone and fax number while we employe the service of an Attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to secure and prepare affidavit of claim in your favour including letter of probate/administration so which will put you in place as the next of kin.

If you are interested, pleasereply immediately . Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. All i want from you is honest and trustworthy.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

I await your urgent reply .
Regards.
Mr. Kenneth Philip


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