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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: "Mr Sherif Adams" <sherifadams1@gala.net>
Reply-To: sherif_adams1@excite.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 01:46:35 +0100
Subject: Warm Greetings


FROM MR SHERIF ADAMS,
MANAGER AUDITTING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A),COTONOU,
BENIN REPUBLIC, WEST AFRICA.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Sherif Adams, Manager Auditting and Accounting Department in the
Bank Of Africa, Cotonou, Benin Republic in West Africa.(Twenty Two Million
United States Dollars) belonging to a American business magnate and property
consultant, Late Mr Hamilton Creek. The late Mr Hamilton Creek died with his
entire family after his car ran into a Trailer load of Groundnut Oil, and
they all died immediately.

Also I observed that since his sudden death the bank has made frantic
efforts to locate his relations, but all attempts failed.and To avoid the
board of directors taking advantage of the funds,I concieved the idea of
contacting you so that you will stand as the next of kin,i need your
unflinching support and cooperation to have the funds transferred to your
nominated bank account,everything have being put to place for a smooth
operation as a staff in this bank, i have all the information you will
needto cliam this fund.

As a civil servant still in an active service we are prohibited to operate a
foreign account, therefore this is why i seek for a foreign partner who can
assist in receiving this fund and at the same time advice me for a lucrative
business investment which he will be managing or on the other hand,help me
to oversee on my behalf pending when i will retire and possible come over
for our investment.For this reason i am contacting you for such undertaken
and if eventually you are willing and ready for such business,i have agreed
to give you 30% of the total sum while i shall have 60% and the remaining
10% shall be for the less privileged and the motherless babies home.

Having done a thorough feasibility study on how to perfect the transfer of
the funds to your bank account, your role shall be to send an application
for claim of the funds to the bank as a next of kin or business partner to
the late Mr Hamilton Creek. I also would require your contact address,
telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please, be rest assured
that the business is 100% risk free and do not use the advantage to betray
me once you recieve this fund into your account.

I look forward to receiving your urgent response

Thanks And God Bless

Best Regards
Mr Sherif Adams

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