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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "DR.VICTOR AGWU" <YS@ny.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: victoragwu@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 03:27:23 -0800
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

STRITLY CONFIDENTIAL
FROM:DR.VICTOR AGWU


DEAR SIR,

I AM DR.VICTOR AGWU AN ACCOUNTANT (FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPT) WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF

TRANSPORT LAGOS- NIGERIA.WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOME SENIOR OFFICALS OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,AND THE MINISTRY

OF FINANCE, WE WANT TO TRANSFER THE SOME OF THIRTY-FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS OUT OF MY COUNTRY, NIGERIA. THE THIRTY-FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS IS AN ACCUMULATION OF OVER-INVOICED CONTRACTS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN EXECUTED AND COMMISSIONED. THIS AMOUNT STILL LIES IN THE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN).

AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE CANNOT OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE CODE OF CONDUCT ACT IN NIGERIA MAKES IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICER TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT IS AS A RESULT OF THIS THAT WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE USE OF YOUR PRIVATE/ COMPANY?S ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THE SAID SUM.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MODALITIES HAS BEEN WORKED OUT FOR A SMOOTH AND HITCH-FREE TRANSFER OF THE US$35MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, WITHIN TEN WORKING DAYS OF GETTING YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE AND CONSENT.YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO 20% OF THE $35,000,000:00 FOR PROVIDING US AN ACCOUNT, 75% WOULD COME TO US IN NIGERIA, AND THE REMAINING 5% WOULD BE USED TO OFFSET ALL LOCAL/FOREIGN EXPENDITURE ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS.

(A) THAT WE ARE SATISFIED ON ALL GROUNDS THAT OUR SHARE OF THE FUND WOULD BE GIVEN TO US AFTER TRANSFERENCE.

(B) THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS TREATED WITH UTMOST CONFIDENCE,SECRECY AND ABSOLUTE SINCERITY, WHICH IT DEMANDS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROPOSAL, YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH MY E MAIL ADDRESSES:victoragwu@netscape.net or victoragwu@ny.com TO ENABLE US DISCUSS FURTHER DETAILS ON THE TRANSACTION. YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SECURED TELEPHONE AND FAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR.VICTOR AGWU
URGENT ASSISTANCE




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