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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Appiah" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:38:29 -0700
Subject: REPLY

To: The CEO,

I am Paul Appiah a representative of Prudential Insurance PLC. Actually,
this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such. I
am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached
to this deal for the benefit of both of us. The Management and the Legal/
Treasury Department of this Prudential Insurance in a recent meeting,
recommended that the Insurance Contract of Mr. Robert Finkelstein, who
maintained a Life Insurance Policy, should be declared Dormant and
confiscated hence moving his unclaimed estate to the Treasury.

I came across a very vast sum of money belonging to the above deceased
PolicyHolder (Robert Finkelstein). This man was our client and has a Life
Insurance Policy WORTH the sum of Seven Million Five Hundred
Thousand USD (US$7,500,000.00). Right now, the fund is lying unclaimed in
our custody and there is NO next of kin mentioned in his file and there is
NO HOW we can reach any of his other relatives. All efforts made by us to
establish contacts with any other of his relation has proved abortive and
unsuccessful. His Life Insurance Policy will expire in the next few months
from the date of this letter. Just a few weeks back, we received an
instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare to forward particulars of all
unclaimed benefits that will expire in the next few months.

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to
myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer was a foreigner (from a different country), it is
Officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as
his next-of-kin. I will use my position in this Company to present you as
his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin or even his
business associate if you so choose and the left behind estates
(US$7.5Million) will be Safely transferred into your own account in your
country. Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when
replying this e-mail and I will give you more information as soon as you
indicate your willingness to assist in this viable transaction. Please
provide the following:

Full Name:
Full Address:
Home and Direct Cell Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Company Name:
Company Address:
Position:
Occupation:
Sex:
Marriage Status:
Age:
Next of Kin:
Other Email:
Any of your valid identification either national ID Card or International
Passport:

The transaction will be done successfully and smoothly completed via email
and telephone.

METHOD/MODE OF SHARING:-
A. Total sum with account = USD$7.5 Million
B. Amount to be withdrawn = USD$6.7 Million
C. Myself and my colleague = USD$3.35 Million
D. Account holder (That's you) = USD$3.35 Million
E. Incidential expenses = USD$0.6 Million
F. Banks commission interest = USD$0.2 Million.

I PROMISE that you must be happy and shall rejoice greatly soonest for
cooperation with me in this transaction. After successful conclusion of
this transaction, we shall share the money 50-50 (50% for you and 50% for
me). I await your good response today.

Kind Regards,
Paul Appiah

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