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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 Jeff" <william@mail.com>
Reply-To: w.jeff006@careceo.com
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:31:22 +0900
Subject: HELLO

I am William Jefferson the Divisional Head of Operations systems
development, Clydesdale bank. I have been in search of someone that will
help me on this deal, i am contacting you and see how best we can assist
each other. I have an important business discussion I wish to share with
you which I believe will interest you because you are going to benefit
from it.
One of our late clients had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2009 for 60
calendar months, valued at $3,000,000.00USD (three Million, US Dollars)
and the due date for this deposit contract was this 16 of February 2014.
Sadly, he was involved in an auto crash that took his life sometime last
year. (may his soul rest in peace).
My bank management is yet to know about his death and they have been
expecting him to come and claim his money and the fund cannot be released
unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased
as indicated in our banking guidelines but unfortunately He did not
mention any Next of Kin when the account was opened and leaving nobody
behind for the claim .It is therefore upon this discovery that I now
decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you
as the next of kin (I want to present you as the relative )to the deceased
for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and I
don't want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill. I
knew about it because he was my friend and I am his account officer. He
did not mention any Next of Kin when the account was opened, and he was
not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that I
should give instructions on what to do about his funds.
I knew this would happen and that is why I have been looking for a means
to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happen to know that
he is dead and do not have any next of kin, they will take the funds for
their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. I am now seeking your
cooperation to present you as Next of Kin to the account and my bank
headquarters will release the proceeds of the account to you. There is no
risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. the funds will
be shared equally, 60/40% to both parties, my share will assist me to
start my own company which has been my dream.
Hoping to hear from you immediately as soon as you receive this letter,
for continuation of this transaction.
Yours faithfully,
William Jefferson
Divisional Head, Operations
systems development, Clydesdale bank

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