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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "bello kazim" <kazim_bello@tomsk.biz>
Reply-To: kazim_bello100@hotmail.fr
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 06:00:41 +0200
Subject: READ AND KEEP TOP SECRET


* *
*FROM THE DESK OF MR. KAZIM BELLO
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION
BANK OF AFRICA(BOA)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO
WEST-AFRICA.

Good Day !

READ AND KEEP TOP SECRET *
* *
*I can't imagine how you will feel receiving a sudden business proposal from
a remote country in far away Burkina Faso west Africa and probably from some
one you have not closely related with. But all the same, I believe we do not
need to be of blood relatives before we can establish cordial/business
relationship. Having said this, I think it is very important at this
juncture to introduce myself to you. I am Mr.KAZIM BELLO. the director in
charge of auditing and accounting section of International bank of
Africa(BOA) Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso west Africa. It is my pleasure to
solicit your assistance in this business proposal.

I am contacting you because, I do not want to transact this business with
anybody who is known to any staff of this bank or anybody around here to
avoid any possible blackmail or leakage at the end of the transaction.
During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
31st July 2000, in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his
account with this bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relatives before our discovery to this development,The
said amount was $25..700.000 USD (Twenty-five Million seven hundred United
States Dollars) as it may interest you to know.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer
this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and
needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your
interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your self to this
great business opportunity.
Infact, I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a civil servant (a banker), we are not allowed to operate a
foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the
time of transfer because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to
the bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to
be re-transferred into on his request as it may be after due verification
and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole
money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the
total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone
bills, while 50% will be for me and my partner. Please, you have been
advised to keep "top secret and confidential" as I am still in service and
intend to retire from service after i conclude this deal with you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us
to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when
I hear from you.

Waiting for your urgent call via my private number (+226-78900178)*
* *
*Your's Faithfully,
Mr.KAZIM BELLO
*

------------------------------

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam