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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: usman2020@walla.com
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 04:31:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT FUND CLAIM


Dear Sir/Madam
 
I am Chief Allan K. Daramy, Bank Manager of Zenith Bank, Lagos,Nigeria.
 
I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.On June 6, 1999,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Kari Johnson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$66,500,000.00, (Sixty-six Million, five hundred thousand Dollars) in my branch.
 
Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Kari Johnson died from an Automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore
made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Kari Johnson did not Declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
 
According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as next of kin to late Mr. Kari Johnson. I am writing you because I as a public servant cannot operate a foreign account or have an account more than $1 Million.
 
All these are to make sure that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple. I will like you to provide me immediately your full names and address telephone and fax numbers and bank account details were the funds would be transferred into. For you to be more comfortable with this project please open a new account for I am not out to defraud your account.
 
The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. If you are interested, please reply back to me with this email, daramy2020@walla.com , I assure you that it is risk free Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. (Buying of properties like houses, hotels etc).
 
Best regards,
Mr. Allan K. Daramy




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