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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: "Mr. Fedrick M. Delata" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mensahdel_ebn@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:05:36 +0530
Subject: RE: SO URGENT ...

Good Day Sir/madam,
 
With due respect, this letter might be of a surprise because you do not give me the permission to do so and neither do you know me but before I tell you about myself I want you to please forgive me for sending this letter without your permission.I am writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the wish of God for you to help me and my family, God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly. I need an honest and a trust worthy person like you to entrust this huge transfer project with.
 
My name is Mr.Delata M. Fedrick, one among the Mangers of a financial institution as Anonymous for now until I hear from you for security reason. I stumbled on your email contact believing that you can be of great help and assistance to me, this I know within me that you can.
 
Introduction
I am married to Mrs. Sarah M. Fedrick with two lovely kids (Jane and Sharon) here in Nigeria. I am writing to solicit for your assistance in the transfer of a lump sum of an amount of money worth and equivalent to the tune of US$15,000,000.00.
 
(Source of Fund):
These funds are the excess of what my branch in which I am the Manger made as profit during the 2009 financial year. I have already submitted the annual report for that year to my head office here in Nigeria as I have watched with keen interest as they will never know of this excess. I have since, placed this amount in an Escrow Coded account without a beneficiary (Anonymous) to avoid traces. As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your offshore bank account on my behalf. I shall agree to give you 30% from the total sum of this money for your involvement as my partner and in respect to the provision of a foreign account, and while 60% shall be for me as the Initiator to the deal and I will use my office to make sure that all is done cordially in the meanwhile 10% shall be set aside should incase we both make any expense incur of this deal, that is it w! ould be used to settle our expense
 
This will not be too difficult, counting on the fact that I will be on hand to guarantee the funds are eleased to you, using my official position. This can be done with your cooperation in a few working days. Haven said this, I know you will be curious to know how this will work, but before we swing into action, I will like to ask you this question: Can I really trust you? By entrusting this funds into your custody? Sorry I have to ask this question because my whole life depends on this money and I have served this bank close to 9 years before such trust could be granted to me. For us to proceed into this, I want you to reconfirm the following information below so that i can proceed:
 
Your First, Middle, and Last Name
Your Home Address and/or the Address of where you are staying currently.
Your Phone Number and/or the Number where I can reach you currently.
Age, sex and occupation
 
At your request, I shall provide further information. It is of paramount importance that you do not contact me via the bank mailing system or switchboard telephones about this project as all official lines are periodically monitored to assess our level of customer care in line with our total Quality Management Policy. I will therefore be inclined to feign ignorance if this happens.This is why and only reason why I contacted you. Kindly contact me back via email:
 
mensahdel_ebn@yahoo.com.cn for a brief discussion on how to proceed.
 
Best Regards,
Mr. Fedrick M. Delata

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