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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: Alex Johnson <aalexjohnson091@aol.com>
Reply-To: alex.johnson@london.com
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:23:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mr. Alex Johnson Chief Auditor of CM (Financial Management)

Kindest Attention,

How are you doing today? Fine I guess.I got your email contact from the Worldwide Online business Forum after making some series of search looking for a reputable and competent person that can handle this transaction without exhibiting any fear or betray me at the end of the day. I am Alex Johnson, the Chief Auditor of C M (Financial Management) Limited, United Kingdom. In the course of my job, I discovered a floating fund in an account which was opened in 1999 belonging to a foreigner Late who died in 2002. All effort made to track any member of his family or next of kin has since failed, hence I got in contact with you to stand as
his next of kin . He died leaving no heir or a will.

My intention is to transfer this sum of Twenty Million Five Hundred
Thousand Great British Pounds (£20,500,000) in the above mentioned
account to a safe account overseas. I am therefore proposing that you
partner with me and provide an existing account or set up a new account
that will serve the purpose of receiving the above fund. For your
assistance in this venture, I am ready to part with 30% of the entire
funds After going through the deceased person's records and
files, I discovered that:

(1) No one has operated this account since 2002
(2) He died without an heir; hence the money has been floating
(3) No other person knows about this account and there is no Next of Kin.

If I do not remit this money urgently, it would be forfeited and
subsequently converted to company's funds after the Eight years (this
year); this will benefit only the directors of my firm. The funds will be
approved and paid to you legally as soon as I secure all the necessary
Documents and Certifications in your name. I will also guide you on how to
make your applications to ensure its approval and payment.

Reply stating your direct telephone and fax numbers (I advice you buy a
fax machine if you do not have one) this is to enable me send you detailed
information on the modalities of this proposition. The entire process will
be completed within 14 working days. I completely trust you to keep this
proposition absolutely confidential and I also want you to know that this
transaction is 100% risk free. I look forward to your prompt response.

Do give me a call on +44-762-410-3318 as soon as you receive this message.

Best Regards,
Alex Johnson
Tel: +44-762-410-3318
Fax: +44-870-974-0620

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