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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: "VLADIMIR BALAKOV" <vladimir_balakov@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 01:49:17 +0000
Subject: YUKOS OFFER PLEASE RESPOND

Dear Sir,
I am VLADIMIR BALAKOV and I represent Mr. Mikhail Khordokovsky the former
C.E.O of Yukos Oil Company in Russia. I have a very sensitive and
confidential brief from this top (oligarch) to ask for your partnership in
re-profiling funds over US$19.5 million. I will give the details, but in
summary, the funds are coming via europe . This is a legitimate
transaction.You will be paid for your "management fees".If you are
interested, please write back by this email and provide me with your
confidential telephone number, fax number and email address and I will
provide further details and instructions. Please keep this confidential; we
can't afford more political problems. Finally, please note that this must be
concluded within two weeks. Please write back promptly. I will also suggest
you visit these news sites on the internet to be better informed about this
project.


http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/13/51215.html


http://www.supportmbk.com/mbk/mbk_bio.cfm


http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Mikhail_B._Khodorkovsky


http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/moscow/khodorkovskyinterview.html


http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/75/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=75&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=M1IF&datatype=Person


http://mikhail_khodorkovsky_society.blogspot.com/


Write me back. I look forward to it.


Regards,


V.BALAKOV.


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