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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: "Peter Bello" <peterbello16@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2005 07:59:33 -0800
Subject: REPLY URGENTLY


URGENTLY
Attn: Sir.

This is to inform you honorable contractor about the good news on your
payment and also seeing that you have gone through a lot trying to
receive
this fund but all to no avail.

Now I have made an arrange with a diplomat which the bank I am working
with
uses to help you deliver your fund to your country since transferring
the
fund through bank to bank transfer will demand for a lot of money.

I have also received a call from the diplomat that he has arrived in
London
and I have tried contacting you through your old information, rather I
got
someone that told me your know longer interested with the transaction
that
you have given him the go ahead order to complete it with my bank.

Therefore I want to know if the diplomat should go ahead and deliver
the
consignment to your partner that told me he is presently in California
and
also the amount in the box is ($10,000.000.00) ten million dollars. As
soon
as you contact me I will give you the diplomat telephone number to call
him.

Reach me by return mail as soon as you receive this mail.

Email: peterbello16@hotmail.com
Sincerely.
Peter Bello..
Note that this is a deal and I would want this transaction to be
confidential and the bank I work with must not know about it, I am the
head
of operation Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.


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