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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: Florence Edgar <floremnbr@aim.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2042 05:21:43 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Consider this message


Dear Friend,
Urgent Assistance Required.
My name is Mrs Florence Edgar from Bills & Exchange Department Luxembourg Private Bank in Luxembourg , (Luxembourg) S.A.32, boulevard Royal L-2449 Luxembourg
I would want to use this medium after going through your profile to seek for assistance in a business transaction which is of mutual benefit. A foreigner late Mr Gibson Waltson who is from the United States, an Oil merchant/Contractor, and business magnate , until his death in a ship mishap on the 2nd of May 1999, who Banked with us at our Bank and had a closing balance of huge amount of funds ,which the Bank dose not know any of his available next of kin to claim this funds.
To this regards, I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the bank to notify the diseased next of kin, which I have done and found out that he has no next of kin, which means that this funds will be lost to the government,which we all know will be stolen by the Government officials. In order to avert this development, myself and some of my trusted colleagues in the bank now seek your indulgence to have you stand as late Mr Gibson Waltson next of kin so that the fund will be subsequently transferred and paid into your foreign account.
On indicating your interest, all documents and proofs to enable you get this funds will be carefully worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free transaction. You will be allowed to retain 30% of the total amount after the transaction. If this proposal is okay by you, and you wish to take advantage of the trust bestowed on you mail me as soon as possible at FlorenceODukes@aim.com to enable me furnish you with relevant details to this transaction.
Note: This transaction will only last us 10 working days.
Please, disabuse your mind by not equating this, with the every day online scam that people come accross everyday,but rather treat it with the utmost level of promptness and confidentiality.

Best regards,
Mrs Florence Edgar

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