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

Fraud email example:

From: malik ali <malik_a033@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <dr_malik@myway.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:14:00 +0200
Subject: HOW CAN I TRUST YOU?



FROM THE DESK OF DR.MALIK ALIAUDITIN AND ACCOUNTIN MANAGER, BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO. MY PRIVATE EMAIL BOX: dr_malik@myway.comMY PRIVATE TEL(00226 76619291.)DEAR FRIEND, I AM THE AUDITIING AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU,BURKINA FASO.IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF USD$ 7M (SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER(MR.ANDREAS SCHRANNER FROM MUNICH, GERMANY)WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN MONDAY,31 JULY,2000 13:22 GMT 14:22 UK , IN A PLANE CRASH: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm.SINCE I GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN. TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOME BODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDLINGS AND LAWS BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN. OR RELATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM AT THE PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND WE DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDLINE HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINEDUNCLAIMED AFTER SIX YEARS, THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND. THE REQUEST OF FOREIGNER AS NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASSIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND AN INDIGENE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.YOUR PERCENTAGE WILL BE DECLARE TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST. I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE INDICATED ONCE YOU HAVE AGREED TO GET THIS FUND TRANSFERED THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT.THEREFORE, TO ENABLE THE IMMEDIATE MOVE OF THIS FUND TO YOU ARRANGED, YOU MUST APPLY FIRST TO THE BANK. AS RELATION OR NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED INDICATING.1.YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS2.YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.3.YOUR COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY, I WILL SEND TO YOU BY FAX OR EMAIL THE TEXT OF THE APPLICATION .I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH-FREE AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY ATOM OF FEAR AS ALL REQUIRED ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE MONEY.YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY. REPLY THROUGH MY ALTERNATIVE YOURS FAITHFULLY,DR.MALIK ALI
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