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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: idriss kafando <idriss_kafando57@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <idriss_kafando@myway.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 15:36:29 +0000
Subject: WATING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.



FROM THE DESK OF MR IDRISS KAFANDOFOREIGN REMITTANCE AND EXCHANGE. BANK OF AFRICAN (BOA)OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO. DEAR FRIEND, I AM THE MANAGER OF FOREIGN REMITTANCE AND EXCHANGE DEPT AT BANK OF AFRICAN (BOA). BURKINA- FASO,WEST AFRICA. IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVER AN ABANDONED SUM OF USD$10.5M DOLLARS (TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLAR).IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A CONCORD PLANE CRASH THE YEAR 2000 AT PARIS THAT ALMOST TOOK THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD. SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH,THE BANK HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE THE BANK CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATING IN OUR BANKING GUIDLINES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION THAT KNOWNS ABOUT THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM AT THE PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM. IT IS THEREFORE UNPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND OTHER STAFF IN MY DEPARTMENT NOW DECEIED TO MAKE THIS BUSINNES PROPOSAL TOYOU AND FOR THE MONEY BE RELEASE TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED, SINCE NOBODY WILL EVER COME FOR IT. WE DONOT WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE TREASURY OF THE BANK AS UNCLAIMED BILL OR FUND.THE BANK LAW AND GUIDELINE HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAIMED AFTER SIX YEARS,THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO THE BANK TREASURY ACCOUNT AS UNCLAIMED FUND. THE REQUEST OF FOREIGNER AS NEXT OF KIN IN THIS TRANSACTION IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BURKINABE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER. IN SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT OF THE MONEY,WE AGREE THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU INRESPECT OF THE PROVISION YOU MADE BY STANDING IN THE CLAIM AS NEXT OF KIN,10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENSES INCURE DURING THE TRASACTION ON TAXES THAT WILL ARISE AND 60%WOULD BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES. AS SOON AS THE MONEY HIT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT I WILL COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGES INDICATED ABOVE.TO MAKE THE CLAIM, YOU WILL FIRST OF ALL APPLY TO THE BANK BY SENDING A TEXT OF APPLICATION WHICH I WILL SEND TO YOU FOR YOU TO FILL AND SEND TO THE BANK.IN THE APPLICATION YOU WILL INDICATE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT,YOUR PRIVATE FAX AND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR EASY AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY,I WILL SEND TO YOU BY EMAIL THE TEXT OF APPLICATION WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO THE BANK.I WILL NOT FAILTO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH FREE AND YOU DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY ATOM OF FEAR AS ALL REQUIRED ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TRANSFER. YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.THANKSYOURS FAITHFULLYMR.IDRISS KAFANDO.
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