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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Ian Shipman" <iann1@zwallet.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: iann2@zwallet.com
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 11:34:33 +0100
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Ian Shipman (A BRITISH CITIZEN), I work in a bank here in the Germany with a

corresponding office in UK.

I am contacting you on business transfer of a huge sum of money from a deceased account,

though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and

worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the conclusion of this t
ransaction I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION.

I am the account officer of a foreigner named Mr & Mrs. Raymond Beck in our UK branch office

before I move to Germany for official assignment. Mr. Raymond Beck died long with his wife

in the plane crash of 31 October, 1999 on board the Egyptian Airline 9
90 alongside other passengers.

Please consult the Cable News Network (CNN) website below for verification.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html or

http://216.157.75.11/discus/messages/1073/400.html?1086886167

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims to this

money as the heir. We cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for

claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking gu
idelines.

Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the

deceased, as all documentations will be carefully worked out for the funds

(US$35,000,000.00) to be released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin. It may in
terest you to know that we have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any

of deceased beneficiaries.

Because after four to five years the money will be called back to the bank treasury as

unclaimed bills and the money will be shared amongst the directors of the bank. So it is on

this Note I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the \ next o
f kin/beneficiary to this funds rather than allow The bank directors to share this money

amongst themselves at the end of the year.

Endeavour to furnish me the following informations if you are interested.

1. Your first and last names
2. Complete mailing address
3. Direct Telephone and fax numbers.

These requirements will enable us file letter of claim to the appropriate departments for

necessary approvals in your favor before the transfer can be made.

I shall be compensating you with 20% of the Whole funds on final conclusion of this Project

for your assistance, and 10% set aside for any expenses incured by both of us and 70% shall

be for me, for investment purposes,because I intend to retire from act
ive service after the conclusion of this transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust we have

bestowed in you

Please reply to iann2@zwallet.com

Best regards,
Ian Shipman




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