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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: "Michael Sawadogo" <michael_sawadogo6@superposta.com>
Reply-To: michael_sawdogo@yahoo.it
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:45:42 +0100
Subject: I look forward to receive your email


Dear Friend.
TOP SECRET
I am Dr Michael Sawadogo,the director in charge of credit and exchange
section of Bank Of Africa,(BOA) Ouagadougou Burkina-faso West Africa with
due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a business
transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the
transaction .


During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
Monday, 31 July, 2000, in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his
account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relation beforeour discovery to this development.


The said amount was U.S $4.2M (Four million two hundred United States
dollars). As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information
through the Burkina-faso chamber of commerce on foreign business relations
here in Ouagadougou Burkina-faso.


Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer
this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and
needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your
interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this
great business opportunity.


In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign
account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because I work in this bank.


This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to
the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to
be re-transferred into on his request as it may be after due verification
and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole
money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.


I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transferring the fund and also
telephone bills, while 60% will be for me. Please, you have been adviced to
keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service
after i conclude this deal with you.


I will be monitoring the wholesituation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us
to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when
I hear from you.


I look forward to receive your email


Thanks
My Regards.
Dr Michael Sawadogo

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