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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: "BENSON THOMAS" <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: benson.thomas99@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 13:42:01 +0800
Subject: OFFSHORE CREDIT COMMISSION


FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF AUDITOR
INTERNATIONAL AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OFFSHORE CREDIT COMMISSION
SOUTH-EAST ASIA.
EMAIL ADDRESS:benson.thomas99@yahoo.com.hk


RE: YOUR OUTSTANDING REMITTANCE AMOUNT DISCOVERED

I AM WRITING TO YOU IN A TOP CONFIDENTIAL LEVEL AS I MADE AN ASTONISHING
DISCOVERY DURING THE COURSE OF MY AUDITING FOR THE JUST CONCLUDED FISCAL
YEAR.A WHOPPING SUM THAT RUNS INTO MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES DOLLARS WAS
UNCOVERED BY ME WITH YOUR NAME AS THE MAIN BENEFICIARY. THIS FUND WAS
ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO THIS OFFICE BY YOUR PARTNERS AFTER WHICH THE
OPTED FOR PAYMENT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. UNFORTUNATELY THE FUND WAS
RETURNED HERE IN OUR OFFICE AS THE SAFEST VENUE FOR DISBURSEMENT. EVER
SINCE THEN NOBODY HAS COME FOR THE CLAIM.

ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING SERIES OF SEPARATE FRUITLESS ARRANGEMENT TO
HAVE THIS PAYMENT RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE BUT THE WHOLE TRUTH IS THAT YOUR
FUND HAS BEEN LYING HERE WAITING FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.

NOTE THAT IF YOU KEEP ON DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT HENCE YOUR FUND IS LYING
HERE UNCLAIMED AND THIS THEY WILL NOT TELL AS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
EXTORTION.

CONSEQUENTLY, I WISH TO ASSIST YOU TO RELEASE THIS FUND ONLY IF YOU ARE
WILLING TO PLAY ALONG WITH ME AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY
AS MY OFFICE IS AT STAKE IF ANYONE SHOULD KNOW OF MY INVOLVEMENT TO ASSIST
YOU.

FURTHERMORE, I SHALL BE REQUESTING FOR JUST 5% OF YOUR TOTAL PAYMENT VALUE
WHICH SHALL BE GIVEN TO ME ONCE YOUR PAYMENT IS FINALIZED AND YOU RECEIVE
IT IN YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT.ONLY THEN I SHALL SEND MY BANK DETAILS
FOR MY OWN SHARE ACCORDINGLY.IT IS IMPORTANT YOU REALIZE THAT I AM IN THE
POSITION TO MAKE USE OF MY AUTHORITY HERE TO GET THIS REMITTANCE FINALIZED
WITHIN 48HRS, ONCE MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND I HAVE YOUR WRITTEN
ASSURANCE AS TO THIS REGARDS.

IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO ENABLE URGENT CONCLUSION.

1)CONFIRMATION OF YOUR ASSURANCE OF 5% TO ME THEREAFTER.

2)CONFIRMATION THAT THE FUND BELONGS TO YOU.

3)YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBERS

UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE I SHALL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE ON THE TRANSFER
FORMAILITIES.

AWAITING YOUR URGENT COOPERATION AS I AM INTERESTED IN AN URGENT
CONCLUSION OF THIS ISSUE.

REGARDS
BENSON THOMAS

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