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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: "MR. FAROOQ AHMED" <farooq_ahmed@ourwest.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: farooq_ahmed99@z6.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 20:21:43 +0400
Subject: RE: CONFIDENTIAL LETTER

ATTN: DEAR FREIND,

I AM MAKING THIS CONTACT BASED ON MY PRESUMED RELIANCE,
AFTER GOING THROUGH A BRIEF PROFILE OF YOUR COMPANY HERE
IN THE IRAQ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TRADE DIRECTORY BOOK.
I AM MR. FAROOQ AHMED, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.IN CUSTERBATTLES
SECURITY COMPANY BASED IN GULF REGION.
AND I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ESTABLISH THIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU IN BENEVOLENT SPIRIT AS TO ENHANCE IMMEDIATE
RESOLUTION TO AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHTLY AT HAND.HERE IS OUR WEBSITE:
(WWW.CUSTERBATTLES.COM) FOR MORE DETAILS.

IT WAS MORE LIKE A DREAM WHEN I DISCOVERED SOME BOXES
INTERCEPTED BY IRAQ CUSTOMS AND BROUGHT FORTH TO OUR CUSTODY
FOR SAFE KEEPING. THESE TWO (2) GIGANTIC TRUNK BOXES WAS
INTERCEPTED AT IRAQ SEA PORT IN THE EARLY
HOURS OF 20TH AUGUST, 2004 IN THE
ATTEMPT TO SHIP THE BOXES OUT OF THE COUNTRY,
SUBSEQUENTLY THE OWNER WHOM ACCORDING TO OUR
INVESTIGATIONS BELONG TO SADDAM HUSSEIN
ALSO, AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THIS FORMER IRAQ PRESIDENT
ACCORDING TO OUR INVESTIGATION FACING CHARGES OF
LOOTS AND HUMAN-RIGHT ABUSES IN IRAQ.

AFETR DUE INVESTIGATIONS AND CLEARIFICATIONS,
I HAVE DECIDED TO OWN THESE BOXES WHICH IS ALREADY
UNDER MY CARE IN SECURITY VAULT FOR SAFE KEEPING,
THE CONTENT WHICH I CANNOT DISCLOSE NOW FOR SECURITY
REASONS TO OURSELVES.
SINCE I HAVE EARLIER DECIDED NOT TO OFFCIALLY
ANNOUNCE THIS INTERCEPTION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,

I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE SUPRISED TO KNOW THE
CONTENT OF THESE BOXES. HOWEVER, THE RECENT REPORTS
ABROAD AND ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FROZEN BILLIONS
OF BRITISH POUND STERLING USA DOLLARS OWNED TO THE
SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL CONVINCE YOU. YOU CAN CONDUCT A SEARCH
ON; SADDAM'S LOOT THROUGH GOOGLE SEARCH (GOOGLE.COM).
I URGENTLY NEED TO PRESENT YOU TO THE SECURITY VAULT AS
THE OWNER OF THOSE BOXES IN ORDER TO ASSIST ME
TRANSFER THESE BOXES AND THEIR CONTENTS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY
MEANWHILE, I AM ONLY SENDING THIS PROPOSAL TO ASCERTAIN
YOUR INTEREST AND ONCE POSSITIVE RESPONCE IS RECIEVED FROM YOU,
ASSURING ME OF YOUR UTMOST COOPERATION, SINCERITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY,
I WILL PROCEED TO FURNISH YOU WITH ALL DETAILS AND HOW WE INTEND TO
CARRY OUT THIS RISK FREE TRANSACTION WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION
KINDLY CONTACT ME ON MY PRIVATE BOX BELOW
(farooq_ahmed@steam.to)

MR.FAROOQ AHMED.


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