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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. DONALD KLEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.donald_klen@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 05:29:39 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR FOREIGNER.

 
FROM: Mr DONALD KLEN DIRECTOR AUDITING / ACCOUNTING UNIT. (UNION BANK OF AFRICA ).
 
ATTENTION DEAR FOREIGNER ,
 
THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE. HOWEVER IT'S JUST MY URGENT NEED FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER ABROAD THAT MADE ME CONTACT YOU FOR THIS MUTUAL BENEFICIAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
 
BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF ITS AGAINST YOUR ETHICS.I HOPE YOU WILL ACCEPT MY MAIL IN GOOD FAITH .
 
l AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM ABUJA IN WEST AFRICA AND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF DIRECTOR AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT OF THE UNION BANK OF AFRICA .
 
I AM WRITING TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $US18.500.000.00 [EIGHTEEN  MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS )THE LEFT OVER FUNDS OF LATE MUMMAR GADDAFI (FORMAL /LATE PRESIDENT OF LIBYA ).
 
THIS FUND BELONGS TO THE LATE PRESIDENT OF LIBYA ,I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT WITH GREAT ANGUISH ,
 
GADDAFI DEATH HAVE CAUSED PAINS, HE REFUSED TO HEAD TO ADVICE TO VACATE OFFICE WHEN THE ASKED HIM TO DO SO,HE WAS A VERY RESOLUTE MAN ,I AM GREATLY SORRY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY .
 
GADDAFI ENTRUSTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SAFE KEEPING IN OUR BANKS ,NOW THAT HE IS DEAD I NEED SOME ONE A VERY RELIABLE /AND ONLY A FOREIGNER FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY TO ACT AS THE BENEFICIARY OF FUND IN OUR BANK TO ENABLE OUR BANK RELEASE THE FUND TO YOU AS NEXT OF KIN .
 
THE FUND BELONGS TO FOREIGNER AND CAN ONLY BE CLAIMED BY A FOREIGNER ACCORDING TO OUR BANKING LAW IN MY COUNTRY . HENCE, I AM INVITING YOU FOR A MUTUAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN US IN THE RATION OF 60/40? 40% FOR YOU AND 60% FOR ME I WANT YOU TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND BENEFICIARY OF PROJECT FUND,HENCE IT IS AN EXTREMELY CONFIDENTIAL MATTER BETWEEN ME AND YOU .
 
 
I CONTACTED YOU BY EMAIL BECAUSE ITS THE ONLY OPTION TO TALK ,TO YOU A FOREIGNER ,BASED ON I HAVE LIVED ALL OF MY LIFE HERE IN AFRICA ,I DO NOT HAVE FRIENDS ABROAD .
 
HENCE YOU ARE A FOREIGNER TO OUR COUNTRY ,YOU ARE AUTHORIZED BY OUR BANKING LAW TO APPLY AND CLAIM THE FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR ANY OF YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN .WITH MY ASSISTANCE AND HELP THIS TRANSACTION WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE A SUCCESS.
 
THE FUND BELONGS TO A FOREIGNER AND CAN ONLY BE CLAIMED BY A FOREIGNER ACCORDING TO OUR BANKING LAW. I KNOW IS HARD TO TRUST SOMEONE IN LIFE BUT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TRUST FOR GOD HAS MADE IT SO .
 
MY INTENTION IS TO INVEST THE FUNDS IN REAL ESTATE/MOTEL/HOTEL AND RESORT.OR ANY BUSINESS/INVESTMENTS INTERESTS AND CONCERNS AND ALSO HELP THE POOR  AND NEEDY .RATHER THAN LEAVE THE FUND IN THE BANK WHY MY PEOPLE SUFFER.
 
THE UNION BANK CANNOT RELEASE THIS MONEY ,UNLESS A FOREIGNER APPLIES FOR IT AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED ,AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.
 
I GUARANTEE YOU SUCCESS AND RISK FREE IN THIS TRANSACTION.WE SHALL CELEBRATE SUCCESS IF ONLY YOU ENSURE THAT WE SUCCEED IN THIS TRANSACTION IN ALL HONESTY.
 
MY BARRISTER RAYMOND ALFRED AND BARRISTER LOUIS MBANEFO WILL HELP US PROCURE ALL THE NECESSARY  DOCUMENTS WE SHALL NEED TO ENABLE US  MAKE THIS CLAIM AND FILE APPLICATION FOR THE RELEASE OF FUND TO YOU  AS NEXT OF KIN.
 
I INTEND TO RETIRE IMMEDIATELY AS A BANKER, AS SOON AS THE UNION BANK RELEASE THE FUND TO YOU ,THEN I COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR SHARING OR FIND ANOTHER MEANS FOR YOU TO SEND MY SHARE HOME .
 
I DO WISH TO GIVE YOU A CALL LATER ,TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS MATTER IN CLEAR TERMS WITH YOU ,IN THE ALTERNATIVE YOU CAN REACH ME ON +2347012750951.
 
I ASSURE YOU THIS TRANSACTION IS RISK FREE AND SUCCESS GUARANTEED IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FURTHER DETAIL OF THE TRANSACTION WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL AND REPLY TO ME IMMEDIATELY. Now my questions are:- 1 Can you handle this project for me ? .... ................. 2. Can I give you this trust? ........................ Thanks and best regards.
 
waiting your email
 
Mr Donald Klen.

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