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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: Frank Howard <frankhoward91@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 04:56:48 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

Dear Goodpartner,
I Am Dr.Frank Howard, the Manager in charge of
auditing and accounting unit foreign remittance department of
INTERNATIONAL BANK OF BENIN(BIBE) COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC in West Africa.
with due respect and regards, I have decided to
contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to
both of us at the end of the transaction.
During my investigation and auditing in the bank, My
department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased
person,a foreigner who died in a plane crash
incident, you can also confirm this in
the website as follow:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

The fund has been dormant in his account with the bank without any claim of
the fund in our custody either from his
family or relation before our discovery to this development.
Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself to enable
the whole
plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time of
execution, The amount involved is USD$15.000,000.(fifteen million us
dollars.)Meanwhile the whole arrangement and directives needed to put
claim over
this fund as the confide next of kin to the deceased, will be forward to
you
upon your acceptance information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your
self to this
great business opportunity.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in
this country as a civil servant, we are not allowed
to operate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my
side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank. This is the
actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will
forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of Oath to the
bank and
also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be
re-transferred into on his request as it may be, after due verification and
clarification to designated bank account.I will not fail to inform
you that this transaction is 100% risk free.

On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30%
of the total sum as gratification, while 70% will be
for me Please, you have been advised to keep top secret as we are still in
service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with
you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank
until you confirm the money in your account and ask us to come down to your
country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages
previously indicated and further investment,either in your country or any
other country you may advice us to invest in.All other necessary
information will be sent to you when I hear from you.
I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish in this
deal.
Reply me on my private email address: (frankhoward_mr@yahoo.com).

Best Regard
Frank Howard

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