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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: Zainur Bin Zakaria <budirem1@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: zainubinzakari@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:53:22 +0800
Subject: Urgent

Zainur Binta Zakaria Advocate & solicitor
No. 18 & 20 1st Floor
Jalan Kampung Nyabor
96000 Sibu,Malaysia

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Zainur Bin Zakaria, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, that shares the same last name as yours, died as a result of His heart condition, due to the death of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia. As reported by

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake.

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$5.6 Million). This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to
indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible.

And treats with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.

Best regards,

Zainur Bin Zakaria
Attorney at Law

Anti-fraud resources: