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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: "Dinther Helmut Udo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dinther2009@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:26:23 -0500
Subject: PROPOSITION.

Mr. Dinther Helmut Udo
Valiant Privatbank AG
Bundesplatz 4
Bern - CH 3001
Switzerland.
Confidential Tel  : +870-764107753
Confidential Fax  : +870-764107751
 
Hello,
 
I am contacting you on a business transaction of a huge sum of money
from a deceased account, though I know a transaction of this magnitude
Will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I’m assuring you that
all will be well at the end of the day and this is why I have contact you
to seek your attention and have you stand as the next of kin to the
deceased.
 
We discovered an abandoned sum of (Seven million five hundred Thousand
United States dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign
customer who died along side with his entire family, and ever since his
death none of his next of kin or relations has come forward to lay claim
for this funds
 
We cannot release the funds from his account unless someone applies for
claim as the next of kin to the deceased as indicated on our banking
regulations upon this discovery we now seek your permission to have you
Stand as a next of kin to the deceased in which all documentations will be
carefully worked out by us for the (Seventeen million five hundred Thousand
united States dollars) to be released in your favour as the next of kin to
the deceased for this may interest you to know that we have secured from the
 
Probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business
endeavor by furnishing me with the following;
 
1. Beneficiary name and contact address.
2. Direct telephone, fax and Mobile numbers.
3. Date of birth and occupation.
 
These requirements will enable us file letter of claim to the appropriate
department and authorities for necessary approvals for the release of funds
in your favour before the transfer can be made to you we will be compensating
you with thirty percent of the total sum on final conclusion of this project,
and the rest belong to us.
 
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust
We have bestowed in you.
 
NB: If you are willing to assist me, including the information's i have
requested from you, call me on my confidential tel: +870-764107753. For further
details on what to do next.
 
I await your response and call.
 
Please call me and respond to email: dintherhelmut@terra.com.mx
 
Regards.
 
Mr. Dinther Helmut Udo.
Confidential Tel: +870-764107753
Confidential Fax: +870-764107751

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