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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: "Mr.TAMA AKU" <tama_aku@voila.fr>
Reply-To: mr.tama_aku@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 16:34:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WITH DUE RESPECT..


 

 Dear Friend,
 
                                             (CONFIDENTIAL)
 
I know that this email will be a big surprise to you, but i want you to calm down and read very carefully.
 
I have a business which will be beneficial to both of us.The amount of money involved is ($5,700:000:00 five million seven hundred thousand us dollars) which i want to transfer out of my country to your bank account, all to my financial benefit and yours too.Also to take my wife abroad for treatment of liver damage.
 
This money is owned by a man called JIN SUN, a business commercialist in west African regions. He was dead since four years ago (2008) and since then, no claim has been placed on his bank account balance.
 
I want to transfer this money out of the country but such fund cannot be transferred without a next of kin attached to the fund. the fund could be transferred in these way; you shall present yourself as a business associate to the deceased person, as the care taker and business associate to mr. Jin Sun and his properties.
 
I shall make available to you materials and information with which a successful claim shall be placed on the fund. i shall also be your guide and instructor throughout the duration of this transaction so as to ensure a swift and sure transfer of the fund to your bank account.
 
As to your benefits,you shall be entitled to 40% of this fund for your co-operation in this transaction while 5% will be set aside for expences incured during the course of this transaction.
 
So if you are interested, send a reply to me immediately and in your reply please include your [private phone and your fax numbers] urgency have to be implied and this business must strictly be a deal between both of us.
 
Waiting for your urgent response so that i can move ahead to give you the indept details concerning this transaction and also the steps to take for a smooth transfer of the fund into your bank account.
 
Best Regards,
Mr.TAMA AKU
 

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