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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: "MR, MUHAMMAD KHAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <khan.acc11@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2018 20:48:26 -0700
Subject: RE:PAYMENT APPROVAL

Attention: Dear,
PAYMENT APPROVAL.
In the course of our General Auditing and Account revision of this Beginning of the year 2018,we discovered that the Bank Accounts belonging to some Benefactors have been changed on the basis that the owners have died some time last year or have given out an authorization note of change of data.
After the investigations however, it was revealed that there are Foreigners who are collaborating with Retired Staffs to make these changes illegally without the knowledge of the Bonafide Benefactors.
 
This communication is to inform you that we have programmed your payment to be received by you in person as you are further not expected to pay a dime in receiving of your funds and anybody who asks you to pay money must be lying to you. We have worked out all the modality for you to receive your funds without any further lapses.
 
The $10M part payment funds is currently in our corresponding vault in SOUTH AFRICA, and for security purpose and to avoid impostors to know the way about of the funds, we have to move the documentation to our corresponding vault in HOLLAND where you need to come in person to sign your transfer legalization paper work and approval for the Funds to be remitted in your account on or before 15/7/2018, where the legalization materials will be sign and giving to you to bring along to the paying Bank in SOUTH AFRICA.
 
The Bank have further arranged to pay your flight cost and hotel reservation for the trip, so that as soon as your funds is received by you then you can reimburse us of all the expenses that is made for your trip including hotel reservation.
 
You should also note that the mode of sharing ratio is 70% for you and 20% for them while I will take 10% for all expenses and documentations.
 
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as I look forward to helping you receive your funds without any hitches.Please reply me to my official email address: acc.khan@yahoo.co.uk
 
Expect your valued response.
Best Regards,
Muhammad Khan

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