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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: "Ayo Atieno" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ayoatiano@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 May 2017 16:51:38 -0700
Subject: Next of kin claim JEFOZCGWQQ

Dear Sir,
 
I am Mr. Ayo Atieno; I work with a reputable financial institution in Kenya as an Account Officer in the Treasury/Credit Control Unit. I was mandated to look for a Customer who died some years back in Westgate shopping mall attack by Al-Shabaab terror attack, on 23rd September 2013 to enable his family claim his inheritance funds. You can check the below link for confirmation.
 
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family I could not hence I contacted you, I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets and Capital valued at $18,540,000.00 Million US Dollars (Eighteen Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the share holders of this Financial Institution, so that they can share his funds as dividends amongst themselves.
 
The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days, because as at the time of his demise I was his accounting officer, but have since been promoted to the position of Treasury/Credit Control Unit, ever since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for some time now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of his account can be paid to you, it does not matter if you are direct or indirect relative. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss modalities for transfer.
 
As soon as I receive an acknowledgment of your acceptance, I will furnish you with the necessary modalities of the transaction. I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free, and as soon as we succeed in getting this funds to your account, The money will be shared on a 50, 50 basis............... I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
I am waiting to hear from you soon. You can reply with my private email: aubonline@mail2world.com
 
Best regards,
 
Ayo Atieno

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