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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: "Usman Bello" <usman_bello_big1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: usman_belloo1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 11:33:33 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE



I AM THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OF THE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF Finance(FMF)
LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Sir,

I and my senior colleagues in the Federal Ministry of Finance(FMF) have the
sum of $10Million(Ten million dollars which we got
from over-inflated contracts, which we awarded to a foreign
contractors in the Federal Ministry of Finance(FMF) We are seeking your
permission to transfer this money into your account in your country, and we
will be coming there
for our own shear of the funds.
This money will be shared between you and the officials here in Nigeria.
Your commission will be 30% of the total sum while 10%
will be mapped out to offset any expenses incurred
during the transaction.

Please let me know if you are interested in this
business by the above Email address.

More details of this business will be sent to you
on hearing from you. For effective communication in
this transaction, please send to me your confidential
telephone and fax number including private home or
mobile number.

I will send to you my confidential telephone and
fax number on hearing from you.
Note: This transaction will last only 12 working days.

Yours Faithfully.


Dr Usman Bello


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