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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: "James Ali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamsali1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:26:19 -0700
Subject: PRIVATE INFORMATION

Attention Please,

This letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have never met or discuss before. Basically, the message might sound strange but it is factual in reality if only you care to know. The truth is that I should have notified you first through a more confidential means, (even if it's at least to respect your integrity) please accept my humble apologies if I had caught you unawares, I frankly do not mean any harm in passing my message.

I have business deal if you want? There is a LARGE amount in US Dollars that is floating in a dormant account here in my bank; I will tell you the exact amount when I hear from you. I have watched this account for years and I am the only person who knows about this money. I have taken time to investigate this account and to the bank, such Account/ money does not exist because they have made the fund a write off debt and none existence. I am local person who is also a worker in the same bank, I cannot claim this money so I want to seek your partnership, to present your name and the supporting documents will be made available and the funds will be paid to you as the legal beneficiary so that you and I will split the money, at least 40% for you and the 60% for me? I will have all and every arrangement worked out and we will have a smooth transaction without risk, this is my field.

This transaction is very simple, it can only happen in two ways:
(1) By a direct wire transfer from our bank to your bank account in your Country OR (2) By an online banking, this is where our affiliate bank in abroad will create an online account in your name, the funds will be credited into the online account and details will be given to you so that you can have access to the funds via online and you can transfer /withdraw and wire money directly into any account of your choice in any part of this world jut by online. With this, the account is not monitored and so we are free from tax issues.

However, before any of the above can happens, we must do the processing of the funds. I shall prepare an agreement letter and send to you, this MOU will state clearly the terms of this transaction and will bid the two of us so that you and I will know what we are getting in terms of % at the end of the transaction. This will avoid any argument in future, so it's good that the letter state that you get 40% and I get 60% etc.

After we sign the letter, I shall proceed to secure the document in the court, I shall send you copy as well while the original copy goes to our bank head office, this document will put in you in the right and legal position to receive the money. When the document is submitted to the bank here in my country, then they will contact you and process the funds and finally wire to you via any of the preferred options. In case you are wondering where I got your email? Well, we have millions of email contacts in our data base so I guess you are lucky that I sent you this message but if I don't hear from you after some time, and then I will contact another person

Do ask me any and all questions you have. Please send your phone number so we can talk about this if you are interested.

Best regard,
James Ali.

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