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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: usman sani <usmansani_0008@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 08:55:50 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT!


Dear Sir,

Please do not be surprise to receive this mail.

My name is Usman Sani,I am Regional Director of GLOBAL SECURITY/FIANANCE COMPANY in the Gambia, West Africa.
I write to share this confidential business transaction with you.

We had a foreign client who deposited a huge sum of money (US$28.5million) with our Company. Eventually, this client was among the victims of EGYPT AIR BOEING 767 FLIGHT NO.990 that crashed on the 31-10-1999 in U.S.A. and since incidence, no body has come for the claim of this fund as the next of kin.

A situation I have monitored closely with my position as the regional director of this Company for many years. Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years, I have removed the file to my private volt.

I hereby write to solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a foreigner to enable me move the fund to his account.

This does not have any risk attached to it as all the internal documentations will be handled by me. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will furnish you with details.

Your interest will be negotiable before we commence the operation. Your immediate respond to this mail, is highly anticipated.

My best Regards,
Usman Sani

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