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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "lucky egoh" <luckyegoh_4@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 00:37:28 +0100
Subject: PLEASE CONFIRM OUTSTANDING PAYMENT.

DEAR FRIEND,
COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY.PLEASE BE INFORM THAT I SEALED AN APPROPRIATE
FOREIGN PAYMENT OF $6.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN YOUR NAME AS BENEFICIARY FOR A
PAST LEASING CONTRACT IN 1994. KEEP THIS MONEY SAFE AS YOU CONFIRM AND
RECEIVE IT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE CONFIRM AND RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT FOR ME AS (1)
THE LEASING CONTRACT DONE IN 1994 DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF LATE GENERAL
SANNI ABACHA, WHEN THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK PROFESSOR CHARLES
SOLUDO CONTACTED YOU IN THIS REGARDS BEFORE PAYMENT IS FINALLY RELEASE IN
YOUR FAVOUR THIS WEEK.
THIS PAYMENT IS ACHIEVEABLE THIS WEEK. IT IS ALREADY APPROVED FOR PAYMENT
AND RELEASE AS APPROPRIATE CLAIM . YOU WILL HAVE A FAIR SHARE.
ONCE AGAIN, IN CASE THE GOVERNOR CONTACTED YOU EARLIER TO ASCERTAIN THE
PAYMENT, PLEASE CONFIRM IT THAT YOU ARE THE BONAFIDE BENEFICIARY AND IT IS A
LONG TIME AND OVER DUE PAYMENT. PLEASE YOU HAVE TO THANK HIM THE GOVERNOR
FOR THIS PAYMENT RELEASE INCASE HE GET YOU CONTACTED
I ANTICIPATING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE VIA MY (luckyegoh_2@ummah.org) EMAIL
ADDRESS IN THIS MAIL FOR MORE CLEARANCE.
(luckyegoh_2@ummah.org)
YOURS SINCERELY.
LUCKY EGOH
DIRECTOR, APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
NOTE WELL. THIS PAYMENT IS 100% STRESS FREE BOTH SIDES. IT IS APPROPRIATE
PAYMENT



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