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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Bernard Bryan" <bb300r21@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 09:09:54 +0200
Subject: VERY URGENT REPLY


(URGENT BUSINESS)

My name is Dr Bernard Bryan, and I work in the International operation
department in a Local Bank here in South Africa. On a routine inspection I
discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL. Of 36,000,000 (Thirty
Six Million USD) on further discreet investigation, I also discovered that
the account holder has long since passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary
to the account.

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former
operator of the a/c is a foreigner and from Iraq in particular and I am
certainly sure that he is dead, and nobody will come again for the claim of
this money A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the
account Holder; therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction.

I will provide the necessary information needed in order to claim this
money, But you will need to open an account where this can be transferred.
If interested send your private Telephone No. And Fax number including full
details of the account to be used for the Deposit I wish for utmost
confidentiality in handling this transaction as my job and the future of my
family would be jeopardized if it were breached.

I want to assure you that the transaction is without risk if due process is
followed accordingly. Finally I will give you 25% for your corporation.

Yours,

Dr Bernard Bryan.

_________________________________________________________________
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