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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: "REV. PHILIP BOARDMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ericmarcus@live.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 06:52:39 -0700
Subject: WE APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY OF YOUR BANK DRAFT PAYMENT.

Philip ENGINEERING COMPANY,
26, V-Island Road, Ikeja Avenue,
Lagos-Nigeria.
 
Dear Friend,
 
Compliment of the day to you...
 
How are you doing. Hope you have not forgotten me, I am Mr Philip Boardman,the man from Nigeria who contacted you some time ago to assist me secure the release of some money accrued from the over invoicing of a contract/inheritance that was awarded by my government some time ago during the military regime, though you were not able to assist me conclude the transaction, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the assistance and cooperation of a new partner from Brazil.
 
Presently I'm in London-United Kingdom for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. meanwhile, i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds, I made sure you are not left out the benefit of the transaction hence I kept aside for you sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.($2.500,000.00)Draft. I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
 
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much,so feel free and get in touch with my secretary Mr.ERIC MARCUS and i instruct him on how to send the Bank draft to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive the Draft so that we can share the joy together after all the safeness at that time. In the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which me and my partner are having at hand.
 
Finally, remember that i had left instruction to my secretary so as soon as you contact him, he will send the Draft to you, so feel free to get in touch with MY SECRETARY NOW. Below is the contact of my secretary
 
Name:- Mr. ERIC MARCUS
E-mail:- ericmarcus@live.com
Phone # :- +234-802-120-1474
 
Send to my secretary your contact address and telephone number,let him make arrangement for the shipment of your draft to your doorstep. And also you can give him a call to confirm your address.
 
NOTE: We have observed that MR DENNIS WILLIAMS HAS BEEN CONTACTING YOU, HE HAS BEEN REGARDING HIMSELF AS MY SECRETARY, I WANT YOU TO IGNORE HIS MAILS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS A FRAUDSTER AND HAS NO PART IN MY COMPANY. MR ERIC IS MY SECRETARY NOT DENNIS. BE WARNED!!!
 
With Best Regards,
 
Rev. Philip Boardman

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