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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Henry Ahmed" <drhamed01@yahoo.com.au> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:13:02 -0800
Subject: Hello Sir.

DR.HENRY AHMED
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH &
SOCIAL SERVICES.LAGOS NIGERIA
EMAIL CONTACT; drhenryahmed@doctor.com

DEAR SIR ,

MY NAME IS DR.HENRY AHMED, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONTRACT AWARD
COMMITTEE IN THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EALTH, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA.

WE PLEASED TO GET ACROSS TO YOU FOR A VERY URGENT AND ROFITABLE
BUSINESS PROPOSAL, THIS MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE HAVE NOT MEET
BEFORE, BUT WE CAN TRUST A MAN OF YOUR CALIBER.

BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE MINISTRY OF TRADE &
INDUSTRY, WE WRITE TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR THIS TRANSACTION
BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT DISAPPOINT US.

WE HAVE TWENTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS
(US$27.5M), WHICH WE MADE OVER TIME, FROM CONTRACT AWARDED TO A
CANADIAN FIRM IN MY MINISTRY FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF SCAN
MACHINES, X-RAYMACHINES, E.C.G.MACHINES, FOETUS HEART AND FASTING
BLOOD SUGAR MACHINES FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE
FEDERATION.

IN ORDER TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT, THE SUM OF US$27.5M BROKERAGE
COMMISSION OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS SURCHARGED BY US THE
CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE TO THE CANADIAN FIRM, WHICH HAS COLLECTED
THEIR PAYMENT LEAVING OURS IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AT THE CENTRAL BANK
OF NIGERIA(C. B. N.)

IN THE LIGHT OF THIS THEREFORE, WE ARE SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE AND
PERMISSION TO REMIT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OR ANY
OTHER A/C YOU CAN NOMINATE TO US PREFERABLY YOUR COMPANY ACCOUNT.
WE WILL COMPENSATE YOU WITH US$3M FOR YOUR EFFORT, WHILE THE REMAINING
We WILL Use US$24.5M TO IMPORT GOODS FROM YOUR COUNTRY INTO OUR COUNTRY
OF WHICH WE SHALL NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE ALSO IN THIS AREA.FOR US TO
COMMENCE WITH THIS TRANSACTION.

WE SHALL REQUIRE YOUR FULL BANKING INFORMATION INCLUDING YOUR BANK'S
TELEPHONE, FAX AND TELE X NUMBER. WE SHALL ALSO REQUIRE YOUR DIRECT
TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASIER COMMUNICATION.

COULD YOU PLEASE NOTIFY US OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO CARRY OUT THIS
TRANSACTION WITH US BY GIVING US AN URGENT REPLY.WE HAVE TO SECURE THE
NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THIS FUND INTO
YOU R BANK ACCOUNT AS SOON AS WE HEAR FROM YOU.

BEST REGARDS,

DR.HENRY AHMED.


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