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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: mama1965y@internet.lu
Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:13:31 +0200
Subject: Appointment

MAMADOU SANOU.
BANQUE INTERNATIONALE POUR LE COMMERCE,
INDUSTRIE ET AGRICULTURE DU BURKINA (BICIAB) OUAGADOUGOU,
BURKINA-FASO.
WEST AFRICA.
www.biciab.bf

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM MAMADOU SANOU, CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTOR, BANQUEINTERNATIONALE POUR LE COMMERCE, INDUSTRIE ET AGRICULTURE DU BURKINA(BICIAB) OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO IN WEST AFRICA. I KNOW THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SUPRISE,HOWEVER IT'S JUST MY URGENT NEED FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS PROJECT.

I AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION, FROM BURKINA FASO INWEST AFRICA AND CURRENTLY I AM HOLDING THE POST OF CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTOR (BICIAB. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFERING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS (5.5m$) BELONGING TO ONE OF OUR DECEASED CUSTOMER LATE MR.ANDREAS SCHRANNER,WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON 31 JULY 2000 IN PLANE CRASH.

YOU CAN CONFIRM THE GENUINESS OF THE DECEASED DEATHBY CLICKING ON THIS WEB SITE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
HENCE,I AM INVITING YOU FOR A BUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN US IN THE RATIO OF 60/40,IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL QUICKLY RESPOND BACK BY INDICATING YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE PART OF THIS GREAT AND GOD GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.

DO INCLUDE YOUR CONTACTS TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND FURTHER DETAILS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MAMADOU SANOU.

Anti-fraud resources: