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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 Usman Kamal <usman.kamal02@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:38:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Compliments of the season,



Compliments of the season,


 
I am Mr Usman Kamal from Burkina faso, West Africa, here in Ouagadougou . I work with Bank Of Africa, (B.O.A) I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of an immense benefit to both of us. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of $25 million USA Dollars (Twenty Five MILLON US Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. Morris Thompson an American who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site.   http://www..cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction and the confidentiality herein.
Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that. I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at 25 Million Dollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. You cab reach me through my private email ID : usman.kamal01@sify.com 
 
All I require now is your honest co-operation; confidentiality and trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will proteact you from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the following: as we have seven (7) days to run it through. This is very URGENT PLEASE. KINDLY send the details below:
 
1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address.
4. Your photo
 
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
 
Best regards,    
MR Usman Kamal

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