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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: "Mr. Kazim Obaid" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:44:48 +0400
Subject: Kindly Consider this offer.

Mr.Kazim Obaid
United arab Emirates.
REQUEST FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.
 
Greetings From Dubai,
This message might meet you in (utmost surprise),however,it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.I am a banker by profession from United Arab Emirates and currently holding the post of Director Auditing and Accounting unit of
the bank.
I have the opportunity of transfering the left over funds
($17.5million)our bank deceased customer late Richard Burson, who died  on (Egypt Air Flight 990)along with his family on a plane crash below.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm.
Hence i am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/50 as a brotherhood.
If you agree to my business proposal.further details of the
transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return  mail.
Respectfully
yours
Mr.Kazim Obaid

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