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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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. FRANKLIN OBONG" <obongfranklin@mrgarymoorer.net>
Reply-To: whoisthatgirl@megamail.pt
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:15:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed.


Attention Friend,

 
PLEASE VIEW THIS WEBSITE;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8
59479.stm
 
I have the priviledge and confidence to introduce  you to this business with the hope that you are trustworthy and reliable.
There was a transaction in year 1996, when we were contracted as Financial Consultants to appraise the financial status of a Company, GOLD,DIAMOND  SODAGON PETROLEUM SA.
At the end of the contract, the General Manager had requested that we open an account on his behalf at African development Bank-Cotonou Rep. of Benin and that we did in year 1998. We have discovered that the account has been dormant since february 2000 about few months ago. I  decided to keep it secret and carried out a private investigation. I  have now confirmed that the owner of the account, an expatriate had died along side with family during vacation thereby living  no beneficiary to the account. The amount contained in this account is USD $ 3.5 Million dollars.
I now wish to take this funds abroad for an investment. It has therefore, become imperative that we get an expatriate to act as the beneficiary to this account. I  will make necessary arrangements and docummentations,but you will be required to open an account with the same Bank in order to facilitate the transfer of the funds into your newly opened account.
Upon acceptance, we will forward the details to you including the proof of existence and you will be at liberty to confirm from the Bank before follow up. The proposed sharing pattern shall be 35% for you and 65% for us.
If we do not transfer this funds, It will ultimately end up in the Bank to bank wire transfer. There have been similar cases where the Bank held on indefinitely to the funds. There is no risk to this business, what we request is absolute secrecy and confidentiality while believing that you will respect the terms of Agreement when the funds is transferred into your account. Please, reply immediately as this fund needs to be transfered within 3 weeks.
 
 
Thanks and God bless you.
 
DEACON, FRANK OBONG.
 
 
 

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