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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: "Prince Fayad S. Bolkiah" <princefayadsbolkiah1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:22:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Assalamalakium!!!


Assalamalakium!!!
 
I got your reliable contact from a business diary
and further explicit investment information about
your country. I am Prince Fayad S. Bolkiah, the
eldest son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, former Finance
Minister of Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate on
the Gulf Island. I will save your time by not
amplifying my extended royal family history, which
has already been disseminated by the international
media during the controversial dispute that erupted
between my Father and his step brother, the sultan
of Brunei Sheik Muda Hassanal Bolkiah.
 
As you may know from the international media, the
sultan had accused my father of financial
mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion
dollars. This was as a result of the Asian
financial crisis that made my father's company
Amedeo Development Company and government owned
Brunei Investment Company to be declared bankrupt
during his tenure in office. However my father was
kept under house arrest, his bank accounts and
private Properties including a crude oil
export refinery were later confiscated by the
sultanate. Furthermore during this unfortunate
period, I was advised to evacuate my immediate
family outside the sultanate to avoid further
prosecution from the sultan and his security
operatives, but before I could do that I was placed
under house arrest by the Sultan and have no access
to a phone but I have a Palm hand-held computer
from which I am sending you this mail.
 
Some of the guard here are still loyal to me, so
they would be my contact with you if there is any
document I need to send to you to enable you
collect the boxes of money on my behalf.Before my
incarceration, I went ahead to dispatch the sum of
Two Hundred Million United States Dollars
(US$200,000,000.00) in cash under special
arrangement into the custody of different private
security and Trustee companies for safe keeping
abroad. Just like an unspecified amount of money
Sadam Husseine took out of Iraq in cash .
 
The money were splited and kept in the following
countries in this proportion: US$ 50 Million is in
INDIA,US$80 Million is in Spain, US$70 Million is
in London  .
Hence I seek your good assistance to invest these
funds into profitable investment in your country to
facilitate future survival for my family abroad.
After due deliberation with my aids we have decided
to offer 30% of these funds to you as compensation
for your strong cooperation while 5% have been
mapped out for both local and international
expenses that may be incurred during this
transaction.
 You can visit the websites below for a better
understanding of the situation.
 
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0310
/nat.brunei.jefri.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/670959.stm
Please I count on your absolute confidentiality,
transparency and trust while looking forward to
your prompt reply .
 
I remain Your's in brotherhood,
Prince Fayad S. Bolkiah,



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