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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: "Ms. Kingsley Moghalu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <101kingsley@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 03:22:11 -0800
Subject: Complement!!!

Dear SIR/MADAM,
 
I presumed that all is well with you and your family. Please let this  do not be a
 
surprise proposal to you because i got your contact information from the international
 
directory in few weeks ago  before i decided to contact you on this magintude and
 
lucrative transaction for our future survival in life. Moreover, i have laid all the
 
solemn trust on you before i decided to disclose this successful & confidential
 
transaction to you.
 
My name is Ms Rose Kingsley, I am a banker with one of the banks in Lagos Nigeria. I have
 
urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 7 2007, a Zimbabwean
 
farmer/businessman made a numbered time(Fixed) deposited for twelve calendar months,
 
valued at $9,320,000.00 (Nine million,three hundred and twenty thousand united states
 
dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
 
address but got no reply. After a month,i sent a reminder and finally we discovered from
 
his co-farmer who previously had a joint account with him in my bank that he died in the
 
land crisis in Zimbabwe. On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a
 
WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further
 
investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin in all his official
 
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork.
This sum of US$9,320,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled
 
over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it.
 
According to the Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert
 
to the ownership of the Nigerian Government{STATE} if nobody applies to claim the funds.
 
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as his next
 
of kin so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some
 
corrupt officials. I will intimate you  with the requirements that the attorney will need
 
to prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next
 
of kin upon your positive response.  
 
We shall employ the services of two attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL
 
and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for
 
the transfer. A bank Account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then
 
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money
 
will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you,
 
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be arranged and my
 
position as the Regional manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.
 
Upon your positive response,i shall let you know who i am,the name of my bank and the name
 
of the deceased.I will also provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
 
put you in a clearer picture of this pending transaction.
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.  
 
Yours faithfully.
Ms. Rose Kingsley   

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