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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: "Khalid Hassan" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:33:23 -0800
Subject: This May interest you.

Dear Friend,
 
It is my pleasure to write you this mail irrespective of the fact that we have not met. However, I got your contact information & e-mail address in a human resource profile database of your country during my search for a reliable and trustworthy person that can handle a business of this nature. I am a Banker and presently head of accounting and auditing unit with one of the leading banks in Dubai United Arab emirates. I am writing in respect of my foreign customer who died in the Air Crash {The Concorde Plane Crash AF4590} on July 31, 2000. You can read about this sad news on this page; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
 
My customer, whose name is Mr. Andreas Schranner was a German Property Magnate, he had operated a fixed deposit account with our bank since 1998; his account balance plus interest accrued since then amounts to US$32.5 Million Dollars [Thirty-Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand American Dollars Only], which our bank had since expected any of his relations /next of kin to claim. Unfortunately, he died without a Written WILL & TESTAMENT attached to this account/deposit. Since his death, I have personally watched with a keen interest to see if any of his relations will come forward to put up claim for this deposit, but nobody has shown up till now and this account has been dormant.
 
As his account officer/adviser and couple with my present position in our bank, I am privileged to cover this account from being confiscated. I have contacted a reputable lawyer whom I have discussed this matter with and he confirmed to me that it will be possible if i can present anybody overseas to claim this money as the supposed Next of Kin to my customer. I have with me documents and informations concerning the deposit and the lawyer promised to provide all the legal documents that will grant the next of kin administrative right towards the deposit. So I am contacting you to seek for your cooperation to receive the fund in your bank account as the Next of Kin. The bank policy does not allow such money to stay for so long without being maintained or serviced, hence the money will automatically be reverted to the Government Treasury Account as abandoned and Unclaimed Bill/deposit after a specific period of dormancy.
 
If you are prepared to work with me, we shall share the fund in the ratio of: 50% for yourself, 50% for me. So kindly declare your interest and capability of handling this business confidentially so as to give you elaborate details and information concerning the claim. I want to further assure you that this claim is 100% risk free. I have made up my mind to quit my job once this transaction is concluded and the fund safely transferred to your bank account.
 
Yours sincerely
Khalid Hassan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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