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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: "lewis godwin" <lewis_godwin4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: lewis_godwin@rediffmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:13:10 +0000
Subject: Mr, Lewis Godwin.

Mr, Lewis Godwin.
15 kolughu naba av.
Age:45years old.
Marital status: married with 4children.
Occupation: banker.
Country: Burkina Faso.
City: Ouagadougou.

I am Mr, Lewis Godwin, working at the auditing and accounting department,
BANK OF AFRICA (B .O. A) Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso West Africa with due
respects and regard. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction
that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.

During an annual auditing of Account's in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died in a
tragic plane crash on the Lenana Peak, Mount Kenya, Saturday, the 19th day
of July, 2003 together with his wife Jean, three of their children and their
spouses, and four grandchildren, since then his fund has been dormant in his
account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relation before discovery to this development.

The said amount was U.S $8.2M (Eight million, two hundred thousand United
States dollars).In fact I could have done this transaction alone but because
of my position in the country as a civil servant (A Banker), we are not
allowed to operate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow
on my side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavits of trust of oath to
the Bank and also present a foreign account where you will need the money to
be transferred into on your request as it may be after due verification and
clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money
will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the
total sum as gratification, while 50% will be for me, and an additional 5%
will be mapped out for you, for showing your kind and willingness to assist
me in this transaction, also the remaining 5% will be for any expenses such
like telephone bills which was involved in the transaction and it will all
be deducted out from the total money when it is been transferred to your
account over there. Please, you have been advised to keep "top secret" as I
am still in service and intend to retire from service after I have concluded
this transaction with you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice me
to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when
I hear from you.
I look forward to receive your reply urgently. Show your readiness to assist
me in this transaction by replying this proposal as early as possible. I
will tell you how you can apply to the bank as soon as i receive your
response towards this mail.

Extend my greetings to your family and you should please try and have trust
on me in this transaction so that we shall achieve our aim together.

Do not take this very transaction as a joke, I am betting you right now that
this is just nothing but reality, so you reply and ask me how you can apply
for the text of application form of claim of the deceased fund from the
bank. It is the foreign remittance departments that are responsible for
transference of fund into your account over there.

Thanks from,
Mr, Lewis Godwin.

_________________________________________________________________
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