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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 Muz <lyonsrah@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <ucbcop@live.com>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2014 09:18:00 +0000
Subject: Re: 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 bank 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. For security reason do respond to my proposition through this
secured email: (ucbcop@live.com)

I look forward to your quick reply.

Yours,



Nathaniel Muztanali.



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