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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: "Cliff Jonathan" <phowarth@rya-online.net>
Reply-To: cliffjonathan3@yahoo.ca
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:06:39 GMT
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED


Dear Friend,

I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a
huge sum of money from a deceased customer's account, a
German property magnate Andreas Schranner, 64, his wife
Maria, 62, all perished in the jet crashed On the 25th of
July 2000, deceased, his wife and their two Children died in
the Air France concord plane crash bound for New York in
their plan for a world cruise, see the : Website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might
make anyone apprehensive, I would like to assure you that i
am sending you this mail with the best of intentions.
PROPOSAL; Since then i have been trying to get this funds
out of the bank, the sum of 13,450,000.00 GBP (Thirteen
Million, Four Hundred and fifty Thousand Pounds) in an
account that belongs to our foreign customers who died along
with his entire family in the above accident stated above.
Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has
come forward to lay claims to this money as the heir.

I cannot release the fund from his account unless someone
applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as
indicated in deposited banking guidelines where this money
has been deposited.

I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of
kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully
worked out by us for the funds 13,450,000,00GBP) to be
released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin. It
may interest you to know that I have secured from the
probate court, an order of mandamus to locate any of the
deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this
message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by
furnishing me with the following;

1. Your Full Names and Address.
2. Direct Telephone and Fax numbers.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue
advantage of the trust we have bestowed in you, I WANT TO
TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I
DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT THIS
MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW
OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE
BUSINESS. I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME
DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES INTO YOUR ACCOUNT,I AWAIT YOUR
URGENT RESPONSE.

Regards,
Mr. Cliff Jonathan


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