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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: Lucas Serge <sergelucas533@centrum.sk>
Reply-To: Lucas Serge <sergelucas53@centrum.sk>
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 13:34:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From: Mr. Lucas SERGE.


From:Mr. Lucas SERGE.Cotonou, Republique du Benin. Dearest, Iam Mr. Lucas Serge, principal treasury officer with my bank. I have decided tocontact you through this medium based on a business proposal, which will be ofmutual benefit to both of us. Iknow you will be surprise to read my email I got your contact from your emaildomain, apart from being surprise you may be skeptical to reply back to me dueto what is going on in the internet world today one has to be very carefulbecause a lot of scammer are out there to scam innocent people and this hasmade it very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through theinternet but my proposal is a different case. Iam the personal account officer to one of our late client, a national of yourcountry, who used to work with Societe Beninoise D’energie Electrique (SBEE)here in Republique du Benin as an engineer and a contractor on energymaintenance, my late client made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelvecalendar months, valued at $15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million Five HundredThousand United States Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, we sent a routinenotification to his forwarding address but got no reply. Aftera month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contractemployers, Societe Beninoise D’energie Electrique (SBEE) that my client diedfrom an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he didnot leave a will and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. Itherefore made further investigation and discovered that the deceased persondid not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including hisbank deposit paperwork with our bank. Thissum of ($15,500,000.00) is still sitting in our bank and the interest is rolledover with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forwardto claim it. According to the Republique du Benin law, at the expiration of5{five} years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Beningovernment if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next ofkin to deceased person for the fact that you have same last name with him sothat this money will not be reverted by the government. If this request matcheswith your inward intention for success and greatness, then you are urged tomake a quick response indicating your interest and readiness to participate andwork with me to make this transaction successful to your account. Pleaseobserve utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would bemost profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to myshare for investment in your country. In your return mail, please do forward meyour following information if you are willing to complete this deal with me, toenable me put the total funds in your name for claim as the next of kin to thedeceased person: Yourfull name:Yourcontact address:Yourphone number:Yourage: Awaitingyour urgent reply for more details on claim process in your name.  YoursSincerely.Mr.Lucas SERGE.

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