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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.Martin Kampala" <mr_martinkampala@sify.com>
Reply-To: mr_martinkampala@rediffmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 15:42:29 GMT
Subject: (PLEASE NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE AND TRUST)

(PLEASE NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE AND TRUST)
FROM MR.MARTIN KAMPALA,
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER,
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA), OUAGADOUGOU
BURKINA-FASO, WEST AFRICA.
 
  MAY PEACE BE UNTO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring that this is real and genuine.
 
I am Mr.Martin Kampala the head of auditing and accounting manager BOA-Bank of Africa I came to know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.
 
MY PROPOSITION;
During my audit exercise I discovered an abandoned sum of US$22 million (Twenty two million United States dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our customers a British multi-millionaire (Alan Williams) who died along with his wife and entire family on 20 Oct 2005, Air Tanzania safari plane crash. Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. BOA Bank of Africa cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines, unfortunately, no family member nor relative has ever appeared to claim the said fund. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the deceased so that the fund US$22 million (Twenty two million United States dollars) can be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary's next of kin otherwise the fund will be returned to treasury as unclaimed funds and will be subsequently confiscated by the Burkina Faso government at the expiration of five year duration..
 
All documents to enable you receive this funds will be carefully worked out. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following;
 
1. Your name and address
 
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
 
These requirements will enable us file letters of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can be made. I have agreed that our ratio of sharing will be as stated thus:
On final conclusion of this project, 60% of this shall be for me, while 35% shall be for you and the remaining 5% shall be used to compensate either party for any expenses incurred. Your share 35% stays while; my 60% share shall be used for investment purposes in your country. For your confirmations, you can visit this website for more info
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust we have bestowed in you,
 
I await your urgent mail.
 
Best Regards,
Mr.Martin Kampala
 

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