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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: "Antone Blake" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <blakeantone@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:06:38 -1200
Subject: Urgent Business proposal

Greeting,
 
I know this letter may come to you as a surprise since we have not met before. I got your contact through your country?s public record. My name is Antone Blake Director of Accounts, HSBC London, U.K
 
On routine audit check last month, I discovered a fixed deposit account that has been dormant for the last five (5) years belonging to an investor (Name Withheld) with amount totaling US$15,900,000.00 (Fifteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars). Being the Director of Accounts at my branch, the Banking Regulation / Legislation in England requires that I notify the UK Financial Authorities after a statutory time period of Six (6) years when dormant fixed deposit accounts of this nature are confiscated and called in by the British monitory regulatory bodies. The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and making the following proposal.
 
Upon maturity, I've sent several routine notifications to his forwarding address but got no answer. We discovered a month ago from his contract employers that the depositor had died. On further investigation, I found out that he left no clear beneficiary as next of kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession. However, my proposal is to front you as the next of kin to the deceased investor /customer of our bank. I am convinced that using my position in bank to
work with you, we can secure the funds in your account for us instead of allowing it pass as an unclaimed fund into the coffer of the British Government. This transaction can be made possible because you bear the same LAST NAME with the late investor/customer and can stand as his next of kin.
 
If this transaction interests you, kindly let me know so I can brief you on how we will proceed. I completely trust you will keep this proposition absolutely confidential and kindly forward your full names, contact address, telephone and fax numbers where I can reach you easily. I have suggested that we share the funds as follows 55% for me 35% for your effort and 10% for expenses.
 
I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that we will have protection from any breach of law. I look forward to your urgent response through my non official email address for security reasons
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Antone Blake

Anti-fraud resources: