419 scam: "Mr.Michael Ezinna"<info@uba.com> Dear Friend,

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "michael77@post.ro" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "michael77@post.ro" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Michael Ezinna" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michael77@post.ro>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:35:19 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,

>From The Desk Of Michael Ezinna
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
Plot 245 Adeolu Hope wall Street
Victoria Island Lagos-Nigeria
E-mail: michael77@post.ro

Dear Friend,

I am an Accountant with the UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA(UBA)My name is Mr.Michael Ezinna.
I am the personal Account Manager to Late Engr.Anderson,who is a citizen of your country ,who used to work with an Oil Development company in Nigeria.

NNPC(NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLUEM COMPANY)
here in after shall be referred to as my client On April 21,2007, my client,his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident along Lagos Sagamu Express Road,Lagos Nigeria.

All occupants in the car unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved abortive, after several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating of the funds and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged,particularly the United Bank for Africa PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($14 million u s dollars)
The bank has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3years now,
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that we can proceed on the closure of this account valued at($14million US dollars)and will be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money 50% to me and 45% to you and 5% for any expenditure made during the repatriating of the fund into your account,An attorney will be contracted to help revalidated and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Enclose your private telephone number for easy communication.

You can reach me via :michael77@post.ro

I await your response

Best Regards

Mr.Michael Ezinna

Anti-fraud resources:

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