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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Albert Botleng <abotleng@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2019 14:10:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE,

Hello dear,
My name is Albert Botleng,
I was a servant of Mr. Rumen Til.
My boss Mr.Rumen Til, was an European Citizen who was a Gold & Lime Stone merchant exploiting and exporting Gold & Lime Stone in the interior villages around my country here. Unfortunately, that black Friday 26 December 2003 my boss boarded a flight which he never made it to its destination.
Because the embassy could not contact his relatives, they came to the house and took over. Paid me off and closed down the house. But in my room was a box that my boss told me to always keep safe in my room.
I discovered that it contains documents of the deposit he made and an accompany documents. He deposited US$14, 500,000.00 in BCEAO BENIN for investment abroad with the help of his foreign partner who he said is his Next of Kin.
I went to the bank to show them the documents and also ask the bank how the money can be received. The bank told me that they will be investigating my claim. That day the bank gave me another document for acceptance of clam and said they will get back to me after they are done with their verification.
I waited and waited, and each time the bank will asks me to wait. May be the bank did not want the money to leave there bank. Until recently the bank called me and ask me to present the next of kin.
I want you to work with me and claim the money as the foreign partner/Next of Kin because the Name and Identity of his partner was not mentioned in the Deposit Agreement.
On your response I will give you details of the deposit and how we will claim the money.
I have copies of all documents relevant to this deposit.
I am not asking you to do anything illegal.
On your response I will give you more details on how we will claim the money legally.
Thanks.
Yours sincerely,
PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL AT :  barols62@hotmail.com

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