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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: "stephen isaac" <stephennn2@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 11:54:57 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE


GOOD DAY

Sir/madam,
I got your contact during my search on the Internet. My name is Mr.Stephen
isaac
I am a manager of an Internationally reputable bank here
in london, . I am a Jamaican by birth married with two kids.
I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of USD
10,550.000.00 equivalent. This fund is the excess of what my branch in
which I am the manger made as profit during the last year. I have
already submitted an approved End of the Year report for the year 2004
to my Head Office and they will never know of this Excess. I have
since
then, placed this amount of USD$ 10,550.000.00 on a SUSPENCE ACCOUNT
without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this
money
thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this
money
into your bank account. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while
70% shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no
risk involved in this. The transaction is going to be done within the
law of the land. All I need from you is to stand as the original
depositor of this fund.
If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response to
this
private email address:stephennn1@hotmail.com
With regards,
Mr .Stephen isaac


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