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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: "Alexandra Zuma" <alexandrazuma@gmx.de>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:00:27 +0200
Subject: From Alexandra Zuma


Dear
I am Alexandra Zuma contacting you in regards to a business I discovered from the bank where I work as an auditor.

PROPOSITION I discovered an abandoned sum of $11,000,000.00 (Eleven Million Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died. Since his death, none of his relations has come forward to lay claims to this money as the heir. The management cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as the relation to the deceased. I have with me the most important documents that will help us lay claim on the fund while the money will be released in your favour as the beneficiary. It may interest you to note that I have
secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with your,

1. Your full name and address.
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers.

These requirements will enable me file a letter of claim to the appropriaten departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can be made. We are going to share the total sum on final conclusion of this project, and I will like to invest in your country. If
this proposal is acceptable by you,I shall send to you the documents in my next mail. Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent reply.

Regards,
Alexandra Zuma
00225-07552188


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