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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Hani Abdou" <dr_haniabdou40@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dr_haniabdou12@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:19:10 +0000
Subject: From Abdou, Please Reply Urgently.

FROM DR.HANI ABDOU.
THE REGIONAL SOLIDARITY
BANK (BRS)
LOME - TOGO.
PHONE/00228-919-8663

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Friend,

Assalama Alaikum

I AM DR.HANI ABDOU, THE BILLS AND EXCHANGE MANAGER AT THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE REGIONAL SOLIDARITY BANK OF LOME -TOGO, I AM
WRITING THIS LETTER TO SOLICIT FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FROM YOU TO CARRY
OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUINITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.

LYING IN AN INACTIVE ACCOUNT IS THE SUM OF US$21.3 MILLION BELONGING TO A
FOREIGN CUSTOMER (MR.JOHN SCHELPERT) WHO HAPPENS TO BE DECEASED. HE DIED
WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN A PLANE CRASH.

EVER SINCE HE DIED THE BANK HAS BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME AND
CLAIM THESE FUNDS. TO THIS EFFECT WE CAN NOT RELEASE THE MONEY UNLESS
SOMEONE APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN, AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING
GUIDELINE.

UNFORTUNATELY HE HAS NO FAMILY MEMBERS IN TOGO OR EUROPE WHO ARE AWARE OF
THE EXISTENCE OF THE MONEY (AS HE WAS A CONTRACTOR WITH THE ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES). AT THIS JUNTURE I HAVE DECIDED TO DO
BUSINESS WITH YOU IN COLLABORATION WITH OFFICIALS THAT MATTER IN THE BANK,
TO THIS EFFECT WE SOLICIT YOUR HELP IN APPLIYING AS THE NEXT OF KIN THEN THE
MONEY WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU.

WE DO NOT WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANKS TREASURY AS AN UNCLAIMED
BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDE LINE STIPULATES THAT:IF SUCH MONEY(S)
REMAINS UNCLAIMED FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO FOUR YEARS(6YRS) THE MONEY WILL BE
TRANSFERRED IN TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS.OUR REQUEST FOR A
FOREIGNER AS NEXT OF KIN IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A
FOREIGNER AND A TOGOLAISE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN.

SIR, 30% OF THE MONEY WILL BE YOUR SHARE AS A FOREIGN PARTNER.THERAFTER MY
PARTNERS AND I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR HELP ONCE THE MONEY HITS
YOUR ACCOUNT FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE INDICATED.
THEREFORE, TO ENABLE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOU AS AGREED,
YOU MUST APPLY FIRST TO THE BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED,
INDICATING YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND LOCATION WERE THE MONEY WILL BE
REMITTED TO.

UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY, I WILL SEND TO YOU THE TEXT OF THE APPLICATION
YOU WILL TENDER TO THE BANK AS NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER AND ALL
REQUIRED INFORMATION ABOUT THE DECEASED. I WILL ALSO FURTHER CLARIFY YOU IN
OTHER ISSUES AS IT AFFECTS THE BUSINESS.

KINDLY FILL THE INFORMATIONS AS FOLLOWS

Your full name:....................
Tel:...............................
Fax................................
Address............................
Age:...............................
Occupation.........................
Marital status.....................

Best Regards

Dr.Hani Abdou.
Phone +228-919-8663

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