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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: Umaro leo <umaro041@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <malakiismael2007@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 20:19:29 +0100
Subject: HELLO,



FROM THE DESK OF Mr Malaki Ismael BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER, BANK OF AFRICA (BOA) OUAGADOUGOU,BURKINA FASO.WEST AFRICA malakiismael2007@yahoo.fr Dear Good Friend, I AM THE MANAGER OF BILL AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREING REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT BANK OF AFRICAN (BOA). I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE AS I CONTACT YOU IN SUCH A SURPRISING MANNER. BUT I RESPECTFULLY INSIST YOU READ THIS LETTER CAREFULLY AS I AM OPTIMISTIC IT WILL OPEN DOOR FOR UNIMAGINABLE FINANCIAL REWARDS FOR BOTH OF US. IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF THIRTEEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THAUSAND US DOLLERS ($13.7M)ONLY,IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLAN CRASH. SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEST OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT TO UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEST OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEST OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONG WITH HIM AT THE PLAN CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM. IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU SO THAT THE MONEY COULD BE RELEASE TO YOU AS THE NEST OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND I DONT WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINE HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAIMED AFTER EIGHT YEARS,THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND. THE REQUEST FOR A FOREIGNER AS NEST OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREINER AND A BURKINA CANNOT STAND AS NEST OF KIN TO A FOREINER. WE AGREE THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER,IN RESPECT TO THE PROVITION OF A FOREIGN ACCOUNT, 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE BUSINESS AND 60% WOULD BE FOR ME. TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. YOURS FAITHFULY, Mr Malaki Ismael,
_________________________________________________________________
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