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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: Smith <drmarksmithdesk@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:21:09 +0900
Subject: Read And Get Back to My.

Dear Friend,
I am Mr Mark Smith the director in charge of Auditing and Accounting Department of Bank of Africa Benin in West Africa, and also the account officer of Mr.Robert Bouabjian,(the MD Menemenlioglu construction sarl) of Lebanese Origin. Unfortunately he died in the plane crash of Union Transport Africaines Flight Boeing 727 in Cotonou Benin Republic on the December 25,2003.

Before his death on the 25th December 2003, Mr.Robert Bouabjian had a fixed deposit account with the bank and no other person outside the bank knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved that his supposed next of kin died along with him in the crash. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you. I contacted you to assist in transffering the money left behind by my client to your nominated account before the bank confiscates the fund.
Consequently, since l have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years now. I seek your consent, to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$28.3 million can be paid into your account so that you can invest this money wisely for me.
We shall procure all necessary legal document that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this deal will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly email the following information to me:
a. Complete names/ your address
b. Private telephone number
c. Private fax number
d. Private email
e.Bank account details were this funds will be
transfered.
Have a nice day and God bless.
Sincerely,
Dr Mark Smith



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