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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: Motta Jose <ziledes_silva@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Motta Jose <motta.jose99@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:34:43 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,

In every fiscal year, banks in the Republic of Benin releases floating or unclaimed fund to the government treasury. Majority of the unclaimed fund are monies belonging to foreigners-immigrants who for the reasons of demise left behind their fund.  These fund remains trapped in Republic of Benin because neither the families nor friends of the deceased person know about the fund and because there is absoultely insufficient information to trace their relatives becomes very hard. Presently, there is a particular unclaimed fund worth $6,400,000 which I want us to claim.

The deal is this; legal certified fund transfer documents in conformity with the Republic of Benin financial laws shall be processed to legally make you the legitimate inheritor of the fund so as to enable the fund to be transferred to your own bank account. If you agree to it, we shall share the fund 50% - 50%. We have the possibility to gain this fund if you and I work together. Now that I have explained this matter to you, are you willing to do this transaction? I wait your reply.

Regards,
Motta Jose


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