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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: "Brian Bello Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brianbelloadams@rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:33:31 -0700
Subject: IMPORTANT INFORMATION- NIGERIA DANA-AIR CRASH.

I got your contact through a reliable source and found you worthy and
capable of handling this top secret transaction. If you consent to this
and respond positively, we shall round up this transaction within 5days.
 
My name is Brian Bello Adams Administrative/Accounts Manager working with
United Bank for Africa (UBA), Lagos-Nigeria. In subsequent correspondence,
I will forward to you the documented proofs of the business I am about to
introduce you into.
 
I have the privilege to work closely with two Chinese (Late Mr. Wang Yu
and Late Mr. Lang Yi) as their confidant and account manager of their bank
account operated with my bank. You may please click or copy and paste the
following link to confirm the two names as victims of the ill fated flight
(Dana Air) that crashed in Lagos-Nigeria on the 3rd of June, 2012;
 
http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/284-breaking-news/38922-full-list-of-victims-in-dana-air-crash;
 
I crave your indulgence to keep this information top secret. Late Mr. Wang
Yu and Late Mr. Lang Yi are agents of some corrupt top government official
here in Nigeria and within the last 2yrs, the two dead men’s account were
used to launder huge sums of dollars abroad for the corrupt government
officials on the guise of government contract and purchase of materials
abroad for contract execution. This system of money laundering is common
practice here in Nigeria amongst top government official since they are
not allowed by existing laws here to operate such accounts.
 
On Friday 1st of June, 2012, Late Mr. Wang Yu made a withdrawal of
US$7,000,000.00 (Seven Million United State Dollars) from his account and
ordered for a transfer to a Chinese account. The transfer was successfully
executed but when the news of the transferee’s and his co-partner’s sudden
death on a plane crash was announced, I quickly stopped the transfer on
Monday morning being the 4th of June, 2012. I have safeguarded the
US$7Million sum in a safe account where it will not be traced and wish to
negotiate with you for immediate transfer of the fund into a new account
that will be supplied by you. I am doing this based on the fact that I am
100% sure of the source of the funds (loots from government treasury by
corrupt government officials)
 
I am willing to share the fund 50-50 ratio with you as long as you
reassure me of your sincerity and keep this top secret.
 
I will give you full details of how we shall proceed upon the receipt of
your reply confirming your readiness to work with me.
 
We shall open up a telephone communication immediately I hear from you.
 
Waiting for your response!
 
Brian B. Adams

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