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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: "George coleman" <georgecole1@ecplaza.net>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 15:50:44
Subject: WITH BEST REGARDS

Dear Confidant,
This letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have
never met or discussed before. Basically, the message might sound
strange and ambiguous but it is factual in reality if only you care to know.
The truth is that I should have notified you first through a more
confidential means, (even if it's at least to respect your integrity and
privacy) please accept my humble apologies if I have caught you
unawares, I frankly do not mean any harm in passing this business
proposition to you.]
I am a member of the ELECTRIC POWER IMPLEMENTATION
COMMITTEE (EPIC)).of the NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER
AUTHORITY (NEPA) I got your email during a personal search on the
Internet and wish to use this opportunity to notify you of the existence of a
certain amount we wish to transfer overseas for the purpose of
investments and importation of goods from your country.
In May 2001, a contract of sixty-six million United States dollars
($66,000,000) was awarded to a foreign company by my ministry. The
contract was for supply, erection and system optimization of supper
polypro 200,000-bpsd, system optimization of 280,000-monax axial
plants,500 kva Transformers and the computerization of conveyor belt for
Kaduna Oil refinery. With only the consent of the head of the contract
evaluation department, I over-invoiced the contract value by twenty five
million five hundred thousand United States dollars
($20,500,000).
The contract has been completed long ago and the foreign company fully
paid off. But in the office files and paper work, the company is still owed
USD20.5M representing the over invoiced amount. Because this amount
is derived from the award and execution of a foreign contract, there is no
way the money can be paid locally. That is why I contacted you so that
we can do the project together for our mutual benefit. We have
concluded every necessary arrangement to transfer this amount to a
foreign account as the final phase payment for the said contract. What
we need is a company that will stand in as having carried out the contract
(to be nominated by you) into whose account we can deposit the money
and thereafter we shall come over there to share the money with you. We
sincerely need an honest person to work with and have agreed to share
the money in the
following percentages, 70% will be for us who will effect the transfer and
30% will be for you whose account is used to secure the funds. There is
no risk involved as all relevant documentions& applications will be seeked
legitimately from the relevant Federal Ministries and Parastatals before the
funds can be transferred so there should be no fear on your side of its
legality..
If you are interested, kindly contact me by Email indicating your full names
or company name and address. Your direct telephone and fax numbers.
Everything has been arranged and I will send more information about the
business transaction to you as soon as I hear from you but if you are not
interested kindly discard this mail and for obvious reasons,
kindly accord with UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY.
Kind regards
Dr George coleman

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