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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: "William Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mgx02@att.net>
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:50:49 +0100
Subject: Bank of America Account Notification

Bank of America Branch & ATM
1501 Pennsylvania Ave.,
N.W. Washington,
DC 20006
 
 
Dearest Friend,
 
 
Am making this contact to you on the fact that we can be of assistance to each other in developing a long lasting cordial business relationship. I was moved by my personal inspiration to trust your sincerity to handle a business.
 
On the 25th of November 2001, a confidant of mine and a customer of our bank who died in a plane crash in Switzerland, age 82. (  http://articles.cnn.com/2001-11-25/world/swiss.plane_1_plane-crash-flight-recorders?_s=PM:WORLD  ) All passengers of the flight unfortunately lost their lives. Because my late friend had neither wife nor kids before his death, I made enquiries to locate any of his extended relatives, this proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail.
 
Three weeks ago I got a letter from the volt deposit department of our bank notifying me of their intension to confiscate or declare unserviceable a volt deposit owned by my late friend {valued US$90.5M} if I fail to produce a heir to make claim on the volt account. Based on that  fact am making this contact to ask your sincere cooperation in repatriating the money before its confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Volt department of our bank where these huge deposits is lodged. I have been issued a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over (2) years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of the Volt Deposit Account valued at US$90.5M will be released to you and then you and I can share it; 50% to you and 50% to me. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, and have spoken to a legal practitioner and he assures me of his professional assistance. I require your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
You can reach me on
Tel:  +1-206-259-9028.
E-Mail: mgx01@att.net
 
Anticipating your prompt response.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
William Moore

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