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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: "DR HAMMED HASSAN" <dr_hassham@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 07:12:02 -0700
Subject: KINDLY ASSIST PLEASE.

From:Hammed Hassan

Sir,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you first because it's fastest means. I am an external auditor of a well known bank here in England.
In one of our peroidic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of 15,000,000 (Fifteen Million British Pounds) which has not been operated for the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Mr.Gregory .B.Wilson died in plane crash in July 19,2003 and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.
Below is the summary of the accident,

Date: July 19, 2003
Time: 18:00
Location: Mount Kenya, Kenya
Operator: Ryan Blake Air Charter
Flight #: -
Route: Nairobi - Samburu National Park
AC Type: Swearingen SA-226T Metro II
Registration: ZS-OYI
cn / ln: TC-349
Aboard: 14 (passengers:12 crew:2)
Fatalities: 14 (passengers:12 crew:2)
Ground: 0
Summary: The plane crashed into the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya at an altitude of 16,355 feet as it attempted to fly around Lenana Peak and land in Samburu National Park. Ten American tourists and 2 pilots were killed when the plane hit the mountain 450 feet below the snow covered peak and disintegrated upon impact. Poor visibility may have been a factor.
View the website for clarifications: <http://www.planecrashinfo.com/2003/2003-35.htm>
I have secretly discussed this matter with a top senior minister official of the federal ministry of finance here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with us although due to his possition he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow my instructions everything will be successfull because we will be working hand in hand with him. We thus propose to do business with you,standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and after due legal processes have been followed the fund will be released to your account without delay and we will use it for investment and to assist the less privelaged in the society because if we leave the fund with the government it will be fortified for nothing and will be used to suppress the poor masses in the society.
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.Finally, I will give you 30% for your coporation, 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during this process. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefitial transaction. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested,as well on replying send me the following.
1,Your private phone and fax numbers,for easy communication.
2,Your bank account informations[A NEW OR AN EMPTY ACCOUNT CAN SERVE,ONCE IT IS A VALID BANK ACCOUNT].

Regards,
Hammed Hassan


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