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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: "usman abu" <usman_abu@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:53:18 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT


>FROM THE DESK OF MR, USMAN ABU.
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)OUAGA-BURKINA FASO



THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE.HOWEVER,IT'S JUST MY URG=
ENT NEED FOR FOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANS=
ACTION. I AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM BURKINA FASO IN WEST AFRICA A=
ND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF FOREIGN REMMITTANCE DIRECTOR IN OUR BA=
NK.

I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS ($15.5MILLION=
) OF ONE OF MY BANK CLIENTS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON 31=
JULY 2003 IN A PLANE CRASH.
YOU CAN CONFIRM THE GENUINESS OF THE DECEASED DEATH BY CLICKING ON THIS=
WEB SITE=20
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html
HENCE,I AM INVITING YOU FOR A BUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHA=
RED BETWEEN US IN THE RATIO OF 60/40 IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPO=
SAL.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRANSFER WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I R=
ECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR,USMAN ABU.


Descubre el poder latino en el Mes de la Hispanidad http://www.starmedi=
a.com/noticias/especiales/hispanos.html

Anti-fraud resources: