419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "mrs_fatimafarooq@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Fatima Farooq" <mrsfatimafarooq@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:35:10 +0100
Subject: Re: In a brief introduction, I am Mrs. Fatima Farooq from Northern
Africa Libya!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Dear,

Assalamu Alaikum,

Please do not be embarrassed for this sudden business proposal, In a
brief introduction, I am Mrs. Fatima Farooq a wife to late Mr. Ahmed
Farooq From Libya who was Independent Non-executive Director of
Misrata Peopleâ€™s Jamariya Bank, Libya.

I got your contact through my late husband friend but is also late now
his name is Mr. Jerry Adams he was a bank here before his sudden
death.

I myself is a financial consultant in Libya, because of Libyan war I
am right now in Republic of Benin with my last child due to the war in
my country, my husband was murdered along with my two kids by the
President of the Country Col. Moammar Gaddafi because of political
interest.

Visit website/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12915894
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13767462
http://tribune.com.pk/story/278152/qaddafi-captured-as-he-fled-sirte-ntc-official/
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/144251/libyas-first-lady-owns-airline.html
http://saharareporters.com/news-page/son-dead-former-libyan-leader-mutassim-gaddafi-captured

In summary of my business proposal, I have (US$16.000,000.00) Sixteen
Million United State Dollars with a private security company in
EUROPE for safe keeping only.

We lost everything we had in Libya and i can not boast of one cent
with me as a living person accept this funds, I wish to invest the
above mentioned amount in a stable economy outside Africa.

My interest is in Land properties or companies with potentials for
rapid growth in long terms. I am interested in placing part of the
investment plans in your care for better ideas and successful
management, so please if your country's by-laws allow foreign
investment kindly update me.

NB: The fund is drug free and has no money laundering related matter.

I await your kind response via my email address (mrs_fatimafarooq@outlook.com)

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs.Fatima Farooq.

IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE IN YOUR JUNK OR SPAM DUE INTERNET

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam