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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: alexulu7@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:27:45 -0800
Subject: A LETTER FROM ALEX ULU

PLOT 324 WALTER CORRINTON DRIVE VI
Pretoria South Africa
Telephone: +27-73-309-7006
Do reply Via my Direct Email: alexuluofffice@yahoo.com


I am Mr. Alex ulu, a Chief Accountant Auditor with Standard BANK Of
South
Africa.On 14 October 1999, an American mining consultant/contractor
with
the South African Agip Energy and Natural Resources plc, Mr. Andreas
Schranner made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve (12) calendar
months, valued at US$ 14 Million United States Dollars in my branch but
i
want to first make the transfer of $7 Million United States Dollars?
Upon
maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got
no reply. After a month, we sent a Reminder and finally we discovered
that
Mr. Andreas Schranner was dead. He died in the plane crash of 31
July2000,
below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm


I therefore made further investigation and discovered That Mr. Andreas
Schranner did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his
official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of
US$7, Million United States Dollars is still sitting in my Bank and the
interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each
year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to South
African Law, at the expiration of 10 (Ten) years, the money will revert
to
the ownership of the South Africa Government if nobody applies to claim
the fund as unclaimed fund.


Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to
stand
in as the next of kin to Mr. Andreas Schranner so that the fruits of
this
old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials. I will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits
that will put you in place as the next of kin. A bank account in any
part
of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of
this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be
paid
into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40%
for
you.


There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will
be
done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees
the
successful execution of this transaction. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this business if you are interested Please
observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in your country.

Upon your response,

Alex


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