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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. Jose Tito" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josetito@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:14:47 +0100
Subject: From Jose Tito. (Madrid Spain).

Dear Friend.

It is my humble pleasure and trust, I write this very important letter to you, considering you are capable and
kind enough to assist me in this understated business proposal. I am just trying to know if you can be of help
, irrespective of the fact that we didn't know each other before or have meet for the first time in life, but
having the trust that you will not betray me in this business. I came across your contact via internet search
as you know in my earnest searching for a truthful / honest person to handle this business with me and I
came across your contact.

I am contacting you in view of the fact we will be of Great assistance to each other, like developing a
cordial business relationship.

I am an Auditor General of one of the prime banks here Madrid Spain, during the course of our auditing, I
discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1998 and since 2005 nobody has operated
on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the owner of the
account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will
be forfeited for nothing.

The owner of this account is Mr. Philip Taylor, a foreigner, and an industrialist, and he died, since 2002.
And no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other
beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Mr. Philip Taylor until his death was the manager
Real net technology Ltd. I want you apply for the payment of the remaining to the bank.


The amount involved is (USD 75 M) Seventy-five million United States Dollars only. I want to stand as the
beneficiary to this fund and transfer $75,000.000 [Seventy-Five million United States Dollar] to your safe
foreign account in your country, but I don't know any foreigner, I am only contacting you as a foreigner
because this money can not be approved to a local person here, without valid international foreign passport,
but can only be approved to any foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign
a/c because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the a/c Late Mr. Philip Taylor is a foreigner
too, and the money can only be approved into a foreign a/c. However, we will sign a binding agreement, to
bind us together.


I am revealing this to you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business. I need your
full co-operation to make this work fine, Because the management is ready to approve this payment to your
foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you, upon your positive response
and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with instruction of a key bank official who
is deeply involved with me in this business.

I need your strong assurance that you will never, never betray or let me down. With my influence and the
position of the bank official we can transfer this money to your foreigner's reliable account which you can
provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing.


The bank official will destroy all documents of transaction immediately You receive this money leaving no
trace to any place and to build confidence you can come immediately to discuss with me face to face after
which I will make this remittance in your presence and I will fly to your country at least two days ahead of
the money going into the account. I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that
you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. I will use my position and influence to obtain all
legal approvals in your name as the beneficiary for onward transfer of this money to your account with
appropriate clearance from the relevant ministries and foreign exchange departments.


At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total amount, 60% will be for me, while 8%
will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring, while 2% for charity,
as a mark of God's gratitude for the blessing. If you are interested in this transaction, please do reply
immediately so that we can proceed.

I look forward to your earliest reply
Best Regards,

Jose Tito

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