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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. Richard Hill." <richardhill00@walla.com>
Reply-To: rricharddhilll@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:31:17 -0000
Subject: From Mr Richard!!


Dear Friend,


First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue
of its nature as being utterly confidential and secret. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and even
worried. But I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.


Let me start by introducing myself properly to you. l am Mr. Richard Hill,
chief credit/ Account Officer of ZENITH BANK PLC, Lagos Nigeria. I contacts
with believe that you are reliably, discreetness and ability to handle this
confidential transaction. Which involves transferring of unclaimed fund to a
foreign account requiring maximum confidence?

THE PROPOSITION

A French citizen, late engr. John Edward, an oil merchant and construction
engineer with the Nigeria National petroleum corporation NNPC), until his
death last five years ago in china air bust (A310-300) flight Kg 30,
Deposited with us at ZENITH BANK PLC in Lagos, US$ 67.5M, (Sixty seven
Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars Only), The Bank now
expects a next of kin as beneficiary. Serious efforts are being made by
ZENITH BANK PLC to get in touch
with any of Edward's family or relatives but to no avail.


There is a perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of late
Engr. John Edward next of kin (he had no wife or children known to us.) The
management under the influence of our chairman and members of the Board of
Directors has made arrangement for the fund to be declared "Unclaimed" and
subsequently transfer into their personal account.

In order to avert this negative development, I, now seek your permission to
have you stand as next of kin to Late John Edward, so that the fund US$
67.5Million will be released and paid to your account as beneficiary or next
of kin. All documents and proofs to enable you get this fund will be
carefully worked out. We have secured from the probate an order of mandamus
to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries. I have agreed to share the fund
this way 20% for you, 70% for me. I am are assuring you that this business
is 100% risk free, and need only maturity from all the parties involved. As
soon as I receive acknowledgement of your acceptance of this our mutual
business proposal, I would furnish you with the necessary disbursement
ration to suite both parties without any conflict.

Moreover everything about this transaction will be done in a most civilized
and non-criminal way, which must be according to internationally acceptable
standards of practice and morals. In addition there is no risk of failure,
or legal, or security problems, or prosecutions etc, for any body in this
transaction both now and in the future. Therefore, need I say again that you
will indeed not regret your choice of doing this transaction with me at all?


If this proposal is acceptable by you, do take advantage of the trust we
have bestowed on you, get in-touch with me immediately.


Yours Sincerely,


Mr. Richard Hill.


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