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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: "DR.AHMED JOHNSON" <ahmed.johnson13@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <johnson_ahmed@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 20:35:32 +0100
Subject: PARTNERSHIP



Attention: I am Dr. Ahmed Johnson, the Bill and Exchange Managerof ECOBANK PLC, Republic of Benin.During our auditing we discovered the sum of Twelve MillionFive Hundred Thousand United States dollars (USD12.5M)floating in an account opened in this Bank since 1997 andhas been dormant since September, 2001. It was discoveredthat the account owner, MR. SENG , died without a [HEIR]on the Sept. 11th 2001-World Trade Centre Disaster in New York.Upon verification, It was observed that no other person knowsabout this account except his Wife who was also involved inthe WTC crash disaster, the account has no other beneficiary.Until his death he was the Director GOLD ARK [SARL]Since our Bank, got information about his death, we have beenexpecting his next of kin to come forward and claim his moneythis is in accordance with our Banking policy. With thisdiscovery I decided to make this business proposal to you,for further release of this money to you as the next of kinto the deceased customer for safety to prevent this moneyfrom going into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.Upon the receipt of your response, I will send to you thebank's contact, application form and the procedural stepsto take. This business is hitch or risk free as all modalitiesfor fund transfer can be finalized within Fourteen banking days,after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased.I have set aside 30% for you while 70% will be for me whichshall be released after the funds must have been remitted intoyour bank account.while responding to this proposal, kindly include your Personalcontact address and Tel/Fax numbers for quick communication.I will be very happy if you can treat this business with theutmost confidentiality it demands because of my officialposition in this bank.Best Regards,Dr.Ahmed Johnson.Alternative Email: johnson_ahmed@yahoo.fr
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