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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: "Mr. Berry Burdman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <berryburdman@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:03:24 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed

Dear  Friend
First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring that this is real and genuine.
I am Mr. Berry Burdman Jr. From UK, the head of auditing and accounting manager NatWest Bank. I came to know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.
MY PROPOSITION;
During my audit exercise I discovered an abandoned sum of £15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Great British Pounds ) in an account that belongs to one of our customers a US Citizen (Engr. Terry Babineck) A US Citizen who died along with his wife and only son on 20 Oct 2007, Air Tanzania safari plane crash. Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. NatWest Bank cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines, unfortunately, no family member nor relative has ever appeared to claim the said fund. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the deceased so that the fund £15,000,000.00(Fifteen Million Great British Pounds) can be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary's next of kin otherwise the fund will be returned to Government treasury.
All documents to enable you receive this funds will be carefully worked out. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following;
(1) Your Full Name............................
(2) Your Sex.................................
(3) Your Age.................................
(4) Your Country..............................
(5) Passport / driving license.......
(6) Marital Status......................
(7) Your Occupation..........................
(8) Your Personal Mobile Number....................
(9) Your Personal Fax Number......................
These requirements will enable us file letters of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favor before the transfer can be made. I have agreed that our ratio of sharing will be as stated thus:
On final conclusion of this project, 45% of this shall be for me, while 45% shall be for you and the remaining 10% shall be used to compensate either party for any expenses incurred.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust i have bestowed in you, Please contact me via my private email: berryburdman@outlook.com
Regards,
Mr. Berry Burdman.

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