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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: mykeambrose_70@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:36:37 -0600
Subject: PARTNERSHIP !!!





FROM: BARRISTER AMBROSE.W. MICHEAL( SAN)
33 ILAJE ROAD,
ILAJE BARRIGA,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.


DEAR SIR/MADAM,
LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF I AM BARRISTER AMBROSE.W. MICHEAL I
WASTHE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO LATE MR. MORRIS THOMPSON AN AMERICAN WHO
WAS A PRIVATE BUSINESSMAN UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE PLANE
CRASH OF ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT 261 WHICH CRASHED ON JANUARY 31ST
2000, INCLUDING HIS FRENCH WIFE AND ONLY DAUGHTER.YOU CAN READ MORE
ABOUT THE CRASH ON VISITING THESE SITES
BELOW,http://www.cnn.com/2000/us/02/01/alaska.airlines.listhttp://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mthompson.htmlBEFORE
THE PLANE CRASH, MR. MORRIS THOMPSON MADE A NUMBERED FIXEDDEPOSIT FOR
18 CALENDAR MONTHS WITH A VALUE OF US$ 2,600,000.00 (TWO MILLION, SIX
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) IN A BANK HERE IN NIGERIA.UPON
MATURITY SEVERAL NOTICE WAS SENT TO HIM, ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WAS SENT
AND STILL NO RESPONSE CAME FROM HIM. I LATERFOUND OUT THAT MR. MORRIS
THOMPSON AND HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN KILLED IN THAT PLANE CRASH. AFTER
FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MR. MORRIS
THOMPSON’S NEXT OF KIN IS HIS DAUGHTER WHO DIED WITH HIM.WHAT
BOTHERS ME MOST IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF MY COUNTRY AT THE
EXPIRATION 4 YEARS THE FUNDS WILL REVERT TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE
NIGERIA GOVERNMENT, IF NOBODY APPLIES TO CLAIM THE FUNDS. AGAINST THIS
BACKDROP, MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS THAT I WILL LIKE YOU AS A FOREIGNER
TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MR. MORRIS THOMPSON SO THAT YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE FUNDS FOR BOTH OF US.WHAT IS TO BE DONE:I WANT
YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD EVERYTHING PLANNED OUT SO THAT WESHALL
COME OUT SUCCESSFULLY. I PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENT THAT WILL BACK
YOU UP AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MR. MORRIS THOMPSON.PLEASE YOU PROVIDE
YOUR FULL INFORMATION SUCH AS STATED BELOW,
[1] NAME: ________________________________
[2] ADDRESS: ____________________________
[3] AGE:_________________________________
[4] SEX: _________________________________
[5] TELEPHONE: __________________________
[6] FAX: _________________________________
[7] OCCUPATION STATUS: __________________
ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL TAKE US JUST 15
WORKINGDAYS TO ACCOMPLISH BEGINNING FROM WHEN I RECEIVE YOUR
DATA'S.AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN MADE THE NEXT OF KIN, I WILL ALSO FILE
ANAPPLICATION TO THE BANK ON YOUR BEHALF AS SOON AS I SECURE
THENECESSARY APPROVAL AND LETTER OF PROBATE IN YOUR FAVOR FOR THE
MOVEMENT OF THE FUNDS TO AN ACCOUNT THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY YOU.THIS
PROCESS IS 100% RISK FREE AS I HAVE SET OUT ALL THE MODALITIES TO SEE
THAT A LEGALIZED METHOD IS USED BECAUSE I WILL PREPARE ALL THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT UTMOST SECRECY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES DURING THIS TRANSACTION. ONCE
THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WE
SHALL SHARE IN THE RATIO OF 55% FOR ME, 40% FOR YOU AND5% SET ASIDE
FOR ANY INCIDENTAL EXPENSES INCURREDDURING THIS TRANSACTION. IF YOU
ARE NOT INTERESTED, PLEASE DELETE THIS LETTER SO THAT I CAN SCOUT FOR
ANOTHER COMPETENT PARTNER TO CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION. SHOULD YOU BE
INTERESTED PLEASE SEND ME YOUR FULL NAMES, TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER, AND
EMAIL ADDRESS.I WILL PREFER THAT YOU TO REACH ME VIA THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS,
YOUR EARLIEST RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WILL BE APPRECIATED.
KIND REGARDS,
BARRISTER AMBROSE.W. MICHEAL (SAN)




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