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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: "PROF. JOSEF KONNAN BANNI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.josefkonnanbanni@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:55:27 +0200
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

Compliment,
 
I'm Robert J. Felix an underwriter (Lead Manager) with an investment firm situated in United Kingdom. A deceased client of mine who was an oil worker with BW Offshore Sdn Bhd located in Malaysia, died with his wife and daughter on a vacation to Macau. I have contacted you to help assist me in ensuring the funds lodged by my late client with a financial institution abroad worth Nine Million United States Dollar (USD 9,000,000.00) is been claimed. Do contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will need your details as follows
Names:
Address:
Occupation:
Phone numbers:
You earn 30% as your commission for acting as my associate once fund has been received. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Looking forward working with you.
Your swift response is anticipated.
Best Regards,
R. Felix.

Anti-fraud resources: