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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: Paul H.Martins <info@maihandoost-oxygen.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2014 22:55:24 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed

[HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL]
[TRANSFER OF THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE
THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING]

TRANSFER OF 36,759,000.00 MILLION POUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT. My name is Mr. Paul
Martins Hoo, and I work in the International Operation Department in a Bank here
in London. I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though,
this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it
because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, this
correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such.

At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and trouble
free to both parties. WE WANT TO TRANSFER OUT MONEY FROM OUR BANK HERE IN LONDON.
THE FUND FOR TRANSFER IS OF CLEAN ORIGIN. THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS A
FOREIGNER, a program leader. Until his death, The Late Prime Minister, Mr. Rafik
Hariri, has a huge investment here in the United Kingdom and all over the world,
as a matter of fact he has the sum of(THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY
NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) in his account here in London which he deposited
as a family valuables. The family does not know about this deposit.

I was on a routine inspection that I discovered a dormant domiciliary account
with a BALANCE OF (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND
POUNDS STERLING) on further discreet investigation, I also discovered that the
account holder has passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the account. The
bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former operator of the
a/c is a foreigner. I am certainly sure that nobody will come again for the claim
of this money. A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the
account Holder; therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction. I will
provide all necessary information needed in order to claim this money, hoping in
God that you will never let me down now and in future.

Rafik Bahaa Edine Hariri (November 1, 1944 - February 14, 2005), married to Nazek
Audi Hariri, was a Lebanese self-made millionaire and business tycoon, and was
five times Prime Minister of Lebanon (1992-1998 and 2000-2004) before his last
resignation from office on October 20, 2004. The late Rafik Hariri died on
February 14, 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 300 kg of C4 were
detonated as his motorcade drove past the Saint George Hotel In the Lebanese
capital, for more information please log on to (http://www.hariri.info) I WANT TO
TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY
FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A
SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A
GENUINE BUSINESS.

I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES INTO
YOUR ACCOUNT.

Let me hear from you URGENTLY by e-mail <pin1us@videobank.it> if you are willing
to do this business with me.

Best Regards,

Paul H. Martins.
Mobile: +44-7045784027
Private email: <pin1us@videobank.it>

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