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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: "Steven Morris" <steven32_morris@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: steven_morris@myway.com
Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:40:52 +0000
Subject: CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Atten,

{HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL}
(RE: TRANSFER OF (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN
HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS)

RE:TRANSFER OF 36,759,000.00 MILLION POUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT. My name is
Mr.Steven Morris, and I work in the International Operation Department in a
Bank here in London.I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important
business.Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to
reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of
communication. However, this correspondence is unofficial and private, and
it should be treated as such.

At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and
trouble free to both parties. WE WANT TO TRANSFER OUT MONEY FROM OUR BANK
HERE IN LONDON. THE FUND FOR TRANSFER IS OF CLEAN ORIGIN. THE OWNER OF THIS
ACCOUNT IS A FOREIGNER, a program leader.Until his eath,The Late Prime
Minister, Mr. Rafik Hariri, has a huge investment here in the United
Kingdom and all over the world, as a matter of fact he has the sum of(THIRTY
SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) in his
account here in London which he deposited as a family valuables.The family
do not know about this
deposit.

I was on a routine inspection that I dscovered a dormant domiciliary account
with a BAL. Of (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND
POUNDS STERLINGS) on further discreet investigation, I also discovered that
the account holder has passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the
account. The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the
former operator of the a/c is a foreigner. I am certainly sure that nobody
will come again for the claim of this money. A foreigner can only claim this
money with legal claims to the account Holder, therefore I need your
cooperation in this transaction. I will provide all necessary information
needed in order to claim this money, Hoping in God that you will never let
me down now and in future.o.k!

Rafik Bahaa Edine Hariri (November 1, 1944 - February 14, 2005), married to
Nazek Audi Hariri, was a Lebanese self-made millionaire and business tycoon,
and was five times Prime Minister of Lebanon (1992-1998 and 2000-2004)
before his last resignation from office on October 20, 2004. The late Rafik
Hariri died on February 14, 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 300 kg
of C4 were detonated as his motorcade drove past the Saint George Hotel in
the Lebanese capital, for more information please log on to
(http://www.hariri.info) I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN
ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT
THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES
BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS.

I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. Let me hear from you URGENTLY by Email.

Regards,
Mr.Steven Morris.

_________________________________________________________________
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