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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: "John O'Donnell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j.donnell01@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 23:09:41 +0200
Subject: Re:Message

Dear Friend,

How are you doing today, Hope all is well with you and your family?
I’m writing you this letter just to inform you of certain fact that may interest you,
I believe your embassy have contacted you in the past regarding this issue.
It’s difficult to trust people we come across in the internet because of too many vile things
that is happening globally, however we have to build trust to some set of people who we feel they are genuine.
That is what I’m about to do, by revealing a top secret to you. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents
of this mail confidential.

Recently we are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of"AIB Group"
the International Banking conglomerate. This investigation involves a customer who made an investment with
"AIB Group” the Private Banking arm of Allied Irish Bank. The client died intestate and designated no heir over his
investments with my bank. All effort looking for his relative was unsuccessful all this years,
as such the bank wants to transfer the sum to the bank treasury as unclaimed investment at the predetermined period of four years.
Hence I contacted you independently of our investigation and no one is informed
of this communication. Since you share the same paternal name with the deceased customer,
I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct my bank to release the deposit to you as the rightful inheritor.
I would have secretly transferred the fund out of my bank myself, but that would draw a straight line to me,
Ironically you as a foreigner stand a better chance to easily surpass as the next of kin to the deposit.

Upon receiving the fund we shall share the proceeds fifty-fifty each
if you sincerely want to be my partner in this venture, get back to me. However,
if my offer is of no appeal to you delete this message and forget I ever contacted you.
If you find yourself able to work with me let me know and I will initiate this process towards a swift conclusion
Note that this project is 100% risk free and it will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should plan a meeting soon.

Kind regards,

Mr. John O'Donnell
Group Finance Director
Allied Irish Bank Group;
Dublin.

Anti-fraud resources: