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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: "David owolabi" <davidowolabi45@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: davidowo4@sify.com
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:01:20 +0000
Subject: from david

DEAR FRIEND,

I STAND IN THE CAPACITY OF THE PERSONAL ACCOUNT OFFICER TO
LATE MR. MICHAEL GINGER WHO DIED IN THE ODI MASSACRE WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TROOPS ATTACKED THE TOWN (BAYELSA STATE) IN NOVEMBER
1999 LEAVING THE TOWN LIFELESS IN THE POPULAR OPERATION TERMED "OPERATION
HAKURI 11". BEFORE HIS DEATH HE HAD THE SUM OF US$8.5 MILLION WITH OUR
BRANCH AT DIAMOND BANK PLC THAT IS UNCLAIMED. SEE WEBSITE FOR?
CONFIRMATION:http://www.africaaction.org/docs99/odi9912.htm

I SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN STANDING AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THIS
FUND SO THAT WE WILL SHARE THIS FUNDS IN RATIO OF 30% FOR YOU, 65% FOR ME
WHILE 5% FOR EXPENSES INSTEAD OF BEING CONFISCATED BY THE BANK FOR NON
EXISTENCE OF ANY BENEFICIARY TO THE FUNDS AS THE DECEASED RECORDS WITH THE
BANK INDICATES. YOUR CONSENT TO THIS WILL ENABLE ME FURNISH YOU WITH THE
DETAILED PROCEDURE THROUGH WHICH WE WILL CARRY OUT THIS TRANSACTION FOR A
SMOOTH SUCESSFULL COMPLETION.
I APPRECIATE YOU SEND YOUR FULL NAMES, CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS
AND YOUR TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.

I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE IN MY PRIVATE EMAIL:davidowo4@sify.com

THANKS.

MR DAVID OWOLABI



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