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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: philip obi <philip_obi01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 05:04:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: very urgent



SIR


RE: REQUEST FOR AN INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP


I came to know you in my search for a reliable person who will handle a very confidential transaction that involves a huge sum of money, my Name is Philip Obi I am chief accountant with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, I was the chair man contract awarding committee to award and scrutinize contracts to foreign contractors and we awarded contracts to various contractors and over invoiced it to the tune of USD55.000.000.00.



Thus, the contracts has been commissioned and completed and the contractors was dully paid, it may sound strange but exercise patience and read on, we have succeeded in depositing the funds in cash with a finance company here to solicit for a foreigner who will receive the funds on our behalf as a contractor who executed contract with our ministry since civil servants are not permitted to operate foreign account here.



Meanwhile, as soon as the fund is transferred I will resign and come over for mutual disbursement and invest my own share in your country and we have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for securing the funds.



Your urgent response is highly needed to enable me provide more information on the procedure.



Regards,
Philip Obi










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