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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: "John Obi" <obbijohnn@msn.com>
Reply-To: Johnobbi3@yahoo.ca
Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2005 00:23:45 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

FROM :THE DESK OF DR JOHN OBI
NNPC HEADQUATER LAGOS NIGERIA

DEAR SIR/MA,
REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.
DO ACCEPT MY SINCERE APOLOGIES IF MY MAIL DOES NOT MEET YOUR PERSONAL
ETHICS.I AM A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE. A CONTRACT
ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM IN AFRICA IN 2002 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 ASK 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 CONTRACTOR) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO I AM
FORBIDDEN BY MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREGN ACCOUNT. AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL
TRANSFER, 25% 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 AND HOPE TO FAVOURABLY HEAR FROM
YOU.
KINDEST REGARDS,
DR.JOHN OBI (FSS, CFR)


Anti-fraud resources: