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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: "michael mbonu" <michaelmbonu@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 09:58:57 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

FROM THE DESK OF DR. MICHAEL MBONU
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES,ABIDJAN- COTE D'IVOIRE
PHONE: 0022507299572
Email: michaelmbonu@hotmail.com

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

DEAR FRIEND,

TRANSFER OF US$25.5 MILLION INTO A PERSONAL/COMPANY'S OFFSHORE ACCOUNT
Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Industry,we
intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction with you on the
assumption that you will not disappoint us.

We have Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
(US$25,500,000.00) which we made over time from over inflated contracts in
my Ministry (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services).

We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount into your
account or any other nominated account you can provide for us. Your
commission will be 20% of the total sum, 10% for expenses and the remaining
70% is for my
colleagues and myself.

Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction
urgently by e-mail only on the receipt of this message. Kindly, acknowledge
the receipt of this letter by sending to me by email a copy of this letter
with your private Tel. And Fax number. I shall in return inform you of the
modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals for
the immediate release of this fund into your account.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Michael Mbonu,

_________________________________________________________________
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