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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: Mr.Adnan H.Ismail <adnhsml30@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: adnansml_ae@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:16:42 +0400
Subject: Greetings From DUBAI


>From The Desk of Mr. Adnan H. Ismail
Head of Cooperate Affairs,
Emirates Bank,
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
EMAIL: adnansml_ae@yahoo.com

Attn. Dear,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a =
day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I am Mr. =
Adnan Harmoudi Ismail, currently Head of Cooperate Affairs with Emirates =
Bank, Dubai-U. A. E.

I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that I can trust you with =
the information I am about to reveal to you. I got your contact over the =
internet as a trustworthy and reliable person. Please pay attention and =
understand my reason of contacting you today through this email. I am the =
personal solicitor to a foreigner, Late Mr. Donald Heck, an American who =
unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Egypt Air Flight 990, 1999 =
air crash {for more information about this crash and person you can contact =
this website}
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/11/01/iran/main49778.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

He is an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the CHEVRON PETROLEUM =
CORPORATION, Mr. Donald Heck, made a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, =
valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars =
only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer before I was moved to =
my present position recently. You may read more about the crash on visiting =
this B.B.C News internet website. If I do not move this money out of the =
country immediately, by end of the year the government will definitely =
confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide the account owner to =
explain the source of the money.

I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help of a foreigner and =
that is why I am contacting you for assistance. As the Account Officer to =
Late Mr. Donald Heck, coupled with my present position and status in the bank =
as Head of Retail Banking Group, I have the power to influence the release of =
the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the next of kin to the account, =
with the correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. =
All documents to enable you claim this fund will be carefully worked out and =
there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under =
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law, beside =
U. A. E is porous and anything goes. If you accept to work with me, I want =
you to state how you wish us to share the funds in percentage, so that both =
parties will be satisfied. If you are interested, contact me as soon as you =
receive this message so we can go over the details. Thanking you in advance =
and May God bless you. Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I shall =
send you copy of the deposit certificate issued to you when the deposit was =
made for your pursuit.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant =
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your =
confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please observe =
utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most =
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest =
my share in your country.

Awaiting your positive reply via my confidential email address.

Regards,

Mr. Adnan H. Ismail

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