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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: Nathaniel muztalini <kaaaatyhnnn@adinet.com.uy>
Reply-To: nathaniel_muztalini@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:38:30 -0200 (UYST)
Subject: Hello dear

BP. Abidjan 01 2190.

Dear ,

I choose to reach you because of your profile. I got your contact when i was in
search of a relative to the late beneficiary to an account with my bank. Your
profile happen to be the only one close enough to be his far relative as you
both have the same surname. I wish to solicit for your urgent assistance in
what i strongly believe will be of great benefit to both of us. I am a Manager
with a Bank in Cote D' Ivoire also known as "Ivory Coast in English. The issue
I am presenting to you is a case of one of my late customer, a businessman, a
national of your country who died leaving unclaimed funds with my bank. In the
year 2003, my late customer made a fixed deposit here in my bank totalling $15
million (Fifteen Million Dollars) which was due to be collected in 2008 after 4
years maturity with accrued dividends.

On my yearly appraisal of my customers at the turn of every year, I discovered
that this fixed deposit remained overdue for retrieval. I had put up series of
mails and bank notifications to him which were sent back as failure delivery.
It was a year ago that i discovered that he passed on along with his wife and
only child through 2004 Indian ocean Tsunami while resorting at Khao Lake in
Thailand. Since learning of his death, I have managed his account expecting any
of his extended relatives to come forward to claim his money but all attempts
to trace his relatives over the years has been fruitless since he did not
declare any of his relative's information in his banking records with us. Added
to this, professional ethics obligates us to act with extreme confidentiality
when dealing with clients accounts of this type. According to my country "Cote
D' Ivoire" banking law, the money will be bequeathed to the government if it
remains unclaimed by a certain period which is almost near.

However, I don't belong to that school of thought which proposes that the
fortunes of deceased people be given to the government and I am fully convinced
that no one would come forth to claim this fund, as all measures applied to
locate the relative of the late beneficiary has failed. I decided to front you
as a relative to the late beneficiary since you bear the same surname, by so my
bank management will acknowledge you as his next of kin and accept to release
the fund in your favour.

This operation will be done within 7 working days after you must have filed in
your claims transfer application to my bank. I will prepare every detailed
information and proof of fund that will assist you to claim the funds as the
next of kin to the late beneficiary. After the confirmation of the fund in your
account, the proceeds will be shared 50/50. Again, I feel that you may be
apprehensive and consider this amount too big for you to defend. It does not
matter, as there are documents to back it up. This transaction is risk free and
as the most senior account manager with the bank, be rest assured that all
documents to enable you get this fund as the next of kin will be carefully
worked out by me. Do not be bothered that you are not related in any way to my
late customer as I am in position to affix your name as the next of kin.

On your acceptance to handle this operation with me, i will require your
contact address and phone number, to enable me prepare an account closure and
transfer demand letter which will be sent to you after it is drafted. I will be
sending the proof of fund and other relevant documents to clarify you on the
operation. I need not emphasize the confidentiality of this issue and therefore
appeal to you not to discuss this request with a third party, even if you
decline to take advantage of this great opportunity.
I look forward to your quick reply.
Yours,

Nathaniel Muztanali


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