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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: Alfred Mensar <alfredmensar38@msn.com>
Reply-To: <alfredmensar@yahoo.it>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:54:20 +0000
Subject: ON RECOMMENDATION



ON RECOMMENDATION
Dear Friend,
If you could be interested in this transaction
Mr. Andreas Schranner died four years ago leaving behind usd$9,500,000.00
(Nine million, Five hundred thousand United States dollars) in the branch
where I work. I am his account manager and till date nobody has come forward
or put application for the claim.

As the law of the bank here stipulates, if the bank waited for a period of
four years without a beneficiary they will only send the fund to debt
reconversion department and the account will be closed. As the deceased
that died interstate with no will or next of kin with our bank record, I
want you to come forward since I can provide you with the details needed for
us to claim the funds. I will do all the crucial part in the bank to have
the claim released to you promptly.

Please note that no other person knows about this account other than myself.
The strategy is to use my influence as his account manager to make all
necessary changes in your favor so that we can apply for the payment of the
funds in your name. i intend to offer you 35% of the funds, 60% for me while
5% shall cover expenses both parties will encore during the process of
transfer.

If you accept this offer, kindly get back to me for more details,

Regards,
Alfred Mensar

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