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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: "Mr.David Madu Madu" <eneh051@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <muller01m@excite.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:11:50 +0200
Subject: From: Mr. Austin Muller.


From: Mr. Austin Muller.Address: #8 Mitchley Road Tottenham London N17 9HGOccupations: External Auditor
Very Urgent ProposalDo accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal thick although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you first because it's fastest means. I am an external auditor of a well known Bank here in the United Kingdom. In one of our periodic auditing I discover a dormant accounts with holding balance of 52,000,000 (Fifty Two Million British Pounds) which has not been operated for the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Mr. Gregory .B. Wilson died in plane crash in July 19,2003 and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds. I have secretly discussed this matter with a top senior minister official of the federal ministry of finance here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with us, although due to his position he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow my instructions everything will be successful because we will be working hand in hand with him. We thus propose to do business with you ,standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and after due legal processes have been followed the fund will be released to your account without delay and we will use it for investment and to assist the less privileged in the society because if we left the fund with the government it will be fortified for nothing and will be used to suppress the poor masses in the society. This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.So you should provide me with your correct account detail where you will like the fund to be transferred even an empty account is ok. At the conclusion of the transfer you will take 35%,5% will be for any expenses both parties incurred in the process of this business and the remaining 60% will be for me. As soon as I hear from you and upon your strong assurance that you will not let me down once the fund goes into your account I will then start the processing of the transfer of the fund to your account without further delay. You should send the a/c information as stated below.......together with your telephone nos. both Home, Office & Cell phone for easier & faster communication.you should also provide me your passport for me to know you. Bank Name........... Bank Address......... A/C Name.............. A/C Number............... Swift Code.................. Your Telephone................ Routing Number.................. State Country................ I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible if you are interested. Yours,Mr. Austin Muller.
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