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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
Reply-To: mr_brawn207@yahoo.es
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:53:56 +0200
Subject: Proposal From Mr, James Brawn (Urgent Respond)


Mr. James Brawn
Bill and Exchange Manager
Private Email: mr_brawn207@yahoo.es
Private phone: + 34 671 752 715
Date 17th october 2007

Very Urgent Attention,
I am Mr. James Brawn staff of Banco Banesto Madrid Spain. I have a confidential business proposal I want to do with you. I decided to contact you based on, you bear the same surname with the depositor. There is this business opportunity here in our bank; there is an abandoned sum of $9m US dollars (Nine million US dollars) that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his family on 25th December 2003 in a ghastly motor accident along Barcelona express road with his wife and two children.
Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money which is deposited in our security deposit safe vault. The management has been searching for a relative or member of the family to notify them about this deposit. But up till now we have not been able to trace any members of this family.
The management can not release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guideline but unfortunately I learnt that all his family died alongside with him at the car accident leaving nobody behind for the claim. Since you have same surname with the deceased customer you can easily make a deal with me.
It is therefore upon this discovery that I decided to intimate you on this business proposition so that you will apply as a relation to the deceased customer for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and don’t want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed funds or declared to the government of Spain which they will confiscate it. The request of a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner, and it will be better for you to stand as a relation to the customer.
My colleagues and I here in the bank is the only people that has knowledge about this transaction, we agreed that 35% of this money will be for you as foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, while 65% would be for my colleagues and I here in the bank. There after I will visit your country for the sharing according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of these funds to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased indicating your application for the withdrawal of these funds to your nominated bank account.
Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the next of kin application form and also send to me your private telephone no for easier communication. There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I plead with you on one issue, whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose this information to any one.
Best Regards,
Mr. James Brawn


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