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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.SADIQ ABBAS" <dr.s12abbas218@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:34:21 +0000
Subject: LET ME HEAR FROM YOU NOW.




ATTN:Sir,
I am a staff of bank in Africa. I will give you the
name of my Bank. and other important information if I receive a
positive reply from you. For security reasons I cannot disclose my full
identity to you now until I am sure of your cooperation. I work in the
operations dept where I serve as account officer to numerous customers.
One of the Customers whom I worked as his account officer was a wealthy
diamoand Merchant from Australia. Because this man was good to me when
he was Alive, I took it upon myself to travel to his country last
month, to see if I could locate any of his close relations. On reaching
there I Discovered that his only surviving uncle died a few months back.
I
sponsored this trip on my own and nobody in the bank knew I was
undertaking the journey so I did not present any official report of my
Findings in the bank. Now there are two things I could do with regards
To the money. First, as his accounts officer, I could formally notify
the bank authorities that the man is dead and has no next of kin. In
This case the money would be forfeited to the government after some
Time. As a Matter of fact this is the proper thing I am supposed to
do.Another thing I can do is to arrange for someone else, a foreigner,
to Act as the next of kin of the late man so that he will claim the
money.This is the option that I can do to help anybody and I since the
Money actually is public fund due to the fact that my friend was a
Close ally to the late brutal military president that looted government
Treasury. And that is why I have chosen to do it. I want you to be my
Partner. All you would have to do is act as the next of kin of the dead
Man and the whole money in the account will be transferred to your
Account. As the accounts officer to the late man, I have all the
Necessary documents that will require claiming the money in the
Account. The total money in the account is USD17 million. Your share
will be 30%, which is USD5, 100,000. My own share will be 70%. Reach me
Immediately by mail.so that I can give you Further details. Also
provide me you with direct tel to reach you.
Yours truly,
Dr.Sadiq.


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