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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: "Mohammed Basheer" <mohammder2k@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 15:34:00 +0400
Subject: Help

Dear Sir,

My name is Basheer Mohammed Said Bsharat(Jnr) and i am a 24yrs old
Jordain on exile in Dubai, UAE. I write you because i need urgent help.
My father is Late Basheer Mohammed Said Bsharat who before his death
was a major oil merchant in my country Jordan.

I believe my father was murdered by his jealous brothers who at the
moment are after my life too. I own a trust fund which my father opened
for me in one of the big Arab banks in Jordan but i cannot access this
fund because i am not old enough yet.

I need an older person to pose as my guardian so that i can collect
this fund before my uncles see me and make me sign documents that i
do not want to sign.

I will disclose the Bank, account details and amount to anyone who can
help me secure the release of this fund. IT IS ALL THAT I HAVE LEFT.

I will send my positive identification i.e my international
Passport copy and Drivers license to prove that i am who i say i am.

I await your positive response.

Basheer



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