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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: "Eke Jacob" <eke_jacob70@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:47:51 +0000
Subject: private and confidential

FROM THE DESK OF
DR EKE JACOB
NNPC HEADQUATER
LAGOS NIGERIA
PHONE;234-1-4731817
E-MAIL :ekejacob70@yahoo.com

DEAR SIR/MA,

REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.
I AM A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE. A CONTRACT
ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM IN AFRICA IN 2004 WAS OVER-INVOICED
BY
US TO THE TUNE OF EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE
DOLLARS ONLY. $18.5mUSD
IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, I ASKED YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER
OF THE EXCESS FLOATING IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT YOU
MAY WISH TO PROVIDE, FOR IT WAS A CATEGORY "A" CONTRACT, (STRICTLY
RESERVED FOR A FOREIGN CONTRACTORS) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO
THAT
I AM FORBIDDEN BY MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREGN ACCOUNT.
AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER, 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL GO TO YOU FOR
YOUR ASSISTANCE. 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL
EXPENSES INCURED BY BOTH PARTIES.
MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF CORRESPONDENCE.
YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED SINCE I AM STILL IN ACTIVE
SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CORPORATION.

REGARDS,

DR DR EKE JACOB (FSS, CFR)

NB: PLEASE REPLY ME THROUGH MY E-MAIL:ekejacob70@yahoo.com


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