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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: "Steven Meadows" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <steven.meadows01@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:17:50 -0700
Subject: RE: Your Response

Good Day,


I hope this mail meets you in good time. However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as
we have not meet personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration
of its importance and immense benefit. Presently, we are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of
"AIB Group the International Banking conglomerate.


This investigation involves a client and the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client
at "AIB Group", the Private Banking arm of Allied Irish Bank. I would respectfully request that you keep
the contents of this mail private and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of
this mail.

I contacted you independently of our investigation and no one is informed of this communication.
I would like to intimate you with certain facts that I believe would be of interest to you. You share similar surname with this late fellow, as such I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct
the firm to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. That is, I will simply nominate you as
the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you as the rightful heir. I would have gone ahead and
transfer the funds secretly to my private offshore account, but that would have drawn a straight line to me
and my involvement in claiming the deposit. On the other hand, you as a foreigner stand a better
chance to easily surpass, as the beneficiary to the fund.

I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. If you are ready to work with me, I assure you that I could have the deposit
released to you within few days. Upon receipt of the deposit, we shall share the proceeds in halves (50-50).
I ask that if you find no interest in this project that you should discard this email and forget I ever contacted
you. Do not destroy my career because you do not approve of my proposal. I am a family man and this is an
opportunity to provide them with new opportunities.

There is a reward for this project and it is a task well worth undertaking. If you find yourself able to work with
me let me give me positive signal, and I will initiate this process towards a swift conclusion. Do not betray my
confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should plan a meeting soon.

Thank you,

Steven Meadows

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