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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: "peter brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customerservices1980@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:02:50 -0700
Subject: Greetings,my beloved

Greetings,

Dear One Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I Come across your profile and have Decided to get in touch with you after my prayer, to see if you can help me alliviate this problem. I can't imagine how you will feel receiving a sudden letter from a remote country far away and probably from someone you are not closely related with. But all the same, I believe we do not need to be of blood relatives before we can establish cordial relationship,This proposal might come to you as a surprise but believe me that it is transparent business.

My name is MR.PETER BROWN,and I work in the delivery department in a security company here in LONDON,I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important Business. I was on a routine inspection In African,when i discovered a deposit account with a BAL. Of (FIFTEEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLAR).

I later learn t on further discreet investigation that the depositor of the funds has passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the deposit.The company will deliver this money to anyone with legal claims because the former depositor was a foreigner. I am certainly sure that nobody will come again for the claim of this money. We claim this money with legal claims to the deposit Holder, therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction.I will provide all necessary information needed in order to claim this money,Hoping in God that you will never let me down now and in future o.k!.Late Rafik Bahaa Edine Hariri (November 1, 1944 - February 14, 2005),married to Nazek Audi Hariri, was a Lebanese self-made billionaire and business tycoon, and was five times Prime Minister of Lebanon (1992-1998 and 2000-2004)before his last resignation from office on October 20, 2004. The late Rafik Hariri died on February 14, 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 300 kg of C4 were detonated as his motorcade drove past the

We WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS. I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES TO YOU.LET ME HERE FROM YOU I Expect your urgent response including your addresses, your telephone and fax number.Through my direct Email:pb_sec2009@yahoo.com

Thanks for expected cooperation.

Best Regards,
MR.PETER BROWN.
+44 7011174366

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