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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: "ASBS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <suranasry@voila.fr>
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 23:50:00 -0500
Subject: Urgent business inquiry

Sir,
I am Mr. Ahmad Shariff Bin Shaharuddin, and I am sending this email to you from Malaysia, my country.
We both know that spammers have in no small measure created a climate of suspicion and uncertainty in internet communication, thereby making it difficult for people to engage in meaningful business relations over the internet. However, I appeal that you read and evaluate my email for yourself before any conclusion.

I was the house-manager to Mr. Alan Graff (of blessed memory) who died in a road accident on June 12, 2012on June 12, 2012, at the age of 52. He was a Canadian citizen and lived in Malaysia for 22yrs. He was never married.
I am privy to the fact that he only had male acquaintances.

I have with me a Certificate of Time Deposit for a Ten Million United States Dollars (US$10Million). The late Mr. Alan Graff made the fixed deposit with one of the renowned foreign banks here in Malaysia before his death.
I took the certificate and other related documents from his house upon his death because I know he left no relatives. I have no regret for this action.
If I didn't take the documents; the money would definitely either go to the state (Malaysian government) or be culled in by the bank, and the rich politicians and bank directors would keep getting richer and lavishing money on luxury yachts, private jets and concubinage while the poor and humble ones like us continue to live in misery.

So I want to work with you to claim this money from the bank. We share it 40% apiece, 5% for expenses, and donate the remaining 15% to charity.
With the deposit certificate and the necessary sensitive documents relating to the deposit that I have in my custody; any attorney would not have difficulty positioning and presenting you as the next of kin and in line to receive the deposit. And you being a westerner as the late Mr. Alan Graff makes everything easy.

I am certain your safety would not be compromised as this business does not expose you to any kind of risks. Most importantly, your presence would not be required for any kind of interview or scrutiny. The attorney would handle everything till the bank releases and transfers the money to your account anywhere in the world.

Send me an email at: suranasry@voila.fr

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Ahmad Shariff Bin Shaharuddinano

08/01/2015

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