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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "steve matins" <smatins@skymail.mn>
Reply-To: smatins12@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:45:28 -0700
Subject: Mr.STEVE MATINS


Mr.STEVE MATINS
C/O UNION BANK PLC (UB)
56 AJAYI STREET IKOYI
ISLAND, LAGOS NIGERIA ,


Dear ,

I am Mr. STEVE MATINS of UNION Bank PLC .I am the
account manager of late Mr. ERIC SHELTON
who used to work with famous oil company (shell Development )


On the 3rd of April 2007,our customer, his wife and their two children
were involved in a ghastly motor accident along kaduna-abuja(FCT)
express way where all the occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their
lives. Since then
I have made several enquiries to locate any of his
extended relatives and this has proved abortive.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to contact you for
your assistance to transfer the sum of(US$3.5M) (Three Million five hundred
thousand United States Dollars)
that was left behind by our customer in our bank


The banking Law and guideline of UNION BANK stipulates that if such money
remained
unclaimed for over one year, the money will be converted into bank treasury
as unclaimed fund.


My reason of contacting is for you to provide an account where the bank will
tranfer the money to you.
I agree that 40 % of this money will be for you, and 60 % would be for me,

I also want to assure you that this transaction is risk free, therefore you
should not entertain any atom of fear as all required
arrangements have been made for the transfer .


Awaiting your immediate response

regards
Mr.STEVE MATINS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam