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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348037475858 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Commercial Bank" <patrickobi02@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:18:43 +0200
Subject: FROM DR. PATRICK OBI.


=CE=CF=E3=C9 =C7=E1=C8=D1=ED=CF =C7=E1=E3=CC=C7=E4=EC =E3=DE=CF=E3=C9 =E3=
=E4 =E3=E6=DE=DA =E3=DD=DF=D1=C9 =C7=E1=C5=D3=E1=C7=E3 =E6=C7=E1=E3=E6=DE=
=DA =DB=ED=D1 =E3=D3=C6=E6=E1 =DA=E4 =E3=CD=CA=E6=ED=C7=CA =C7=E1=D1=D3=C7=
=E1=C9.
=E3=E6=DE=DA =C5=D3=E1=C7=E3=ED =D4=C7=E3=E1 =ED=E5=CA=E3 =C8=C3=CE=C8=C7=
=D1 =C7=E1=E3=D3=E1=E3=ED=E4 =CD=E6=E1 =C7=E1=DA=C7=E1=E3 =E6=ED=CD=CA=E6=
=EC =DA=E1=EC =E3=DF=CA=C8=C9 =D6=CE=E3=C9 =E3=E4 =CF=D1=E6=D3 =E6 =DD=CA=
=C7=E6=EC.
www.islammemo.cc

Service provided by the site Islammemo=20
The first Islamic site that care about islam and Muslims around the wor=
ld.
islammemo.cc not responsable for the contents of this message.
www.islammemo.cc


FROM DR. PATRICK OBI.
Dear Friend.
It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will b=
e a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if=
I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive this unusual=
manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional a=
nd very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and=
distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact t=
hat, so many individuals have taken possession of the Internet to facilit=
ate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult for genu=
ine and legitimate business class persons to get attention and recognitio=
n.
My name is Dr. Patrick Obi, i am Manager of of a commercial bank. I conta=
cted you on a business Transfer that requires confidentiality, Trust and =
transparency,where both of us have a lot to Benefit. During our auditing =
Accounts section, I discovered a huge sum of money US$20.5Mdeposited by o=
ur late customer, a foreigner who died On the 21st of April 2000, Engr. H=
arold Bowen, his wife and their two Children were involved in a car accid=
ent in a remote village called Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. All occupa=
nts of the car Unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made sev=
eral enquiries to his embassy here in Lagos-Nigeria to locate any of Haro=
ld Bowen Extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful to locate =
any member of his family.=20
Now the management of the bank has issued a notice to provide the next of=
kin to claim the funds or they have the account frozen. Since I have bee=
n unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years now, I contacte=
d you to seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to
the deceased since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds of this accou=
nt valued at US$20.5M, can be transfer to your account that you wouldprov=
ided, then we can share the money 50%/ for me and 50% for you because is =
a dealbetween me and you!
Finally, I have made an arrangement with an attorney who will work on you=
r behalf and secure all the necessary legal documentation that would
indicate you as the Beneficiary of the fund to back up this claim, and th=
is I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in
the wrong hands. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us s=
ees this deal through and secures all the legal documents. I guarantee yo=
u that this transaction will be executed under a egitimate arrangement th=
at will protect you and I from any breach of the law.=20

If you are interested in this deal, kindly get back to me with your compl=
ete information, as follow. Your private telephone and Fax numbers,your f=
ull name and address.=20

Best regards,
Dr. Patrick Obi.
Tel: 234-803-747-5858
www.islammemo.cc all about islam

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam