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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: "Mallam Mustapha Bello" <mallammustaphabello5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mallammustaphabello1@myway.com
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:02:27 +0000
Subject: URGENT NEEDED/ASAP.

FROM THE DESK OF MALLAM MUSTAPHA BELLO

METROPOLITAN AND ALLIED BANK.

10TH JAUGUST 2006.

MY DEAR NEXT OF KIN,

STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL,

I WISH TO BESTOW THIS MUTUAL TRUST ON YOU, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT
IGNORE OR BETRAY. I ALSO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS
LETTER MAY CAUSE YOU.I AM MALLAM MUSTAPHA BELLO, AM ACCOUNT OFFICER, BILLS
AND EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN AND ALLIED BANK. I AM WRITING THIS
LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT. WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $30,
000.000.00 (THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR
FOREIGN CUSTOMERS [MR CASIMIR MACLEOD]WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS WIFE IN
JANUARY 31 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE HARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING.HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME
OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR, BECAUSE WE 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. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER
THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID
FUND. UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT HAVE
AGREED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED HE
MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE
BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND. WE HAE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING
WILL BE AS STATED THUS 30% FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60% FOR US THE
OFFICAIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND 10% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND
FOREIGN EXPENSES INCURRED BY US AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS.

UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I AND ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND OUR SHARE. IT IS FROM OUR 60%
WE INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINE RIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF
RECYCLING THE FUND. TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO
IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E- MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR
FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW.

Your Full Name: ___________________________
Name of City of Residence: ____________________
Direct Telephone Number:_____________________
mobile Number: ____________________________
Fax Number:____________________________________

NOTE ALSO, THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF
ITS NATURE.I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

I AM YOURS SINCERELY,

MALLAM MUSTAPHA BELLO.

N:B;YOUR NATIONALITY DOES NOT MATTER ONLY THAT YOU MUST KEEP THIS
TRANSACTION CLOSE TO YOUR HEART AT ALL TIMES. I PREFER ALL COMMUNICATION IN
ENGLISH.

_________________________________________________________________
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