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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: Sanni Thomas <sannithomas3@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:22:00 -0800
Subject: DETAILS INFORMATION AND PLEASE GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY

*Dear friend,

I am indeed very grateful for your response. As a matter of fact I want to
present you to the Bank as the next of kin to (Late Engr. Mathew Lector**)
who was a customer to this Bank. He died On the 5th of January 2009 when a
gang of Niger Delta militants attacked and bombed oil refineries/ fields
located on the Creeks of that region killing four (4) expatriate staff and
10 local staff of the company including Engr. Matthew Lector **a customer
with United Bank of for Africa. You may not be a blood relation to Late
Engr. Mathew Lector**, but I want to present you to the bank as his next of
kin since he has no next of kin to claim the fund he left behind.

Late Engr. Mathew died without making a will. He might NOT have been closely
related to you by blood, but I know that all close family names get to link
with one another in the long run. So do not feel skeptical about this,
because all modalities has been put in place and I will always assure you
that this transaction is legally normal.

Normally in a situation like this, if nobody comes forward as the next of
kin to claim the funds, the money will go to the Federal Government purse
which. Personally I do not want the fund to go to Government purse. That is
my reason of contacting you so that I will use my position as a senior staff
in my Bank to make you stand as the next of kin so that the funds will be
paid into your account. Then I will join you in your country for the sharing
of the money on the ratio I told you earlier.

I will like us to invest my share in your country on a business you will
suggest to me later like importation and establishing a company over there.
For us to move this transaction forward, please forward to me the following
particulars to enable us begin:

(1)YOUR FULL NAMES AND CONTACT ADDRESS
(2)YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
(3)AGE/MARITAL STATUS
(4)THE NAME OF YOUR BANK AND ADDRESS.

UNITED BANK OF AFRICA PLC have four options of payment which are:

(A) By telegraphic transfer
(B) By bank certified check
(C) By cash payment via our off-shore payment center in Toronto, Canada.
(D) By ATM CARD payment

If you chose to be paid by Cheque, then ignore to send your account number.
United Bank of Africa pays all foreign beneficiaries from our affiliated
off-shore payment center in USA. through the above mentioned four options of
payment therefore when you receive the approval be rest assured that USA
will be contacting you for the payment of your choice.

On receipt of these listed items, I will send you a text of application of
claim which you will complete and send back to us for approvals after which
the funds will be remitted to your account or you can come to carry it in
cash if you wish so. You and I can share the money in the ratio of 48% to me
and 47% to you, while the balance 5% will be set aside for any contingency
expenses in course of this transaction.

Please, I would be most grateful if you can be replying mails on urgent
bases so that we can conclude this transaction within the shortest possible
time. I assure you once more that this transaction is 100% risk-free as I
have met with some top officials of the Bank to work out a risk-free
transaction.

Please handle this transaction with utmost confidentiality because of my
position in the Bank, because bro casting of this transaction can jeopardize
this business and as I told you that I take this business to be a life time
effort and opportunity in Civil Service. That is why I have made up my mind
to follow this business with the last drop of my blood to see that we
achieve our aim. You can call me to my personal cell numbers
on,+2348028480895.

Thank you and have a pleasant day with your family.

Best Regards,

Sanni Thomas.*

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