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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "=?utf-8?q?Mr.Tom=20Bello?=" <mr.tombello0004@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: mr.tombello77@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:53:48 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ATTN: Owena Bank Plc


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:mr.tombello0004@yahoo.com.co



- Dear Friend,Iam Mr.Tom Bello,Bank Manager of Owena bank ltd,Lagos,Branch.I got your contact from the worldtrade center(WTC) Regional office in lagos,Nigeria. Although the detailsof my intentionwas not made known to them,Actually,I listed your name among 4other names & prayed over them & decided to contact you directly.I have a very urgent & confidential bussiness proposition for you & forour overall mutual interest.On june 6 1997,an American oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Mr Barry Kelly made a numbered time(fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at USD$15,000,000.00( Fifteen million dollars) in my branch.Upon,maturity,i sent a routine notification to hisforwarded address but got no reply.After a monthwe sent a reminder,& finally we discovered from hiscontract.employersNNPC,thatMr.Barrydied in an automobile accident.On further investigation,i found out that he did not leave a WILL & all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless.I therefore made further investigation & discovered that Mr.Barry did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents,including his bank deposit paperwork.This sum USD$15,000,000.00 is still floating 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 Nigerian Laws, At the expiration of 12 years,the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian government if nobody applies to claim the funds.Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as a foreigner to stand in as a next of kin of Mr Barry Kelly.This is simple 1)I will like you to provide meimmediately with your full names & address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents & fidavits,which will put you as next of kin.2) We shall employ the services of two attorneys for drafting & notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer.The money will be paid into youraccount for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.There is no risk at all as the attorney and my position will do the paperwork for this transaction as the branch manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.If you are interested,please reply immediately this private email addressUpon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand.PLEASE OBSERVE UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY,and be rest assured that this would be mostprofitable for both of us because i shall require your assistance toinvest my share in your country.Awaiting your urgentreply to this email above,please save me the anxiety of endless waiting,God bless you.Mr.Tom Bello,Owena Bank Plc Lagos.(mr.tombello77@yahoo.com).


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