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

Fraud email example:

From: "President Goodluck Jonathan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.agent@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:14:44 +0100
Subject: RE: CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces
Aso Rock Presidential Villa,
FCT Abuja - Nigeria.
Direct Tel: Coded For Security Reason
Ref: FGN/OP/PYMT-049382/10
Payment File No.: XCX 00948
Payment Release Code: EBID/NG-84900/10
RE: CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER
Follow-up to the recent development in the country, after the death of President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua, I have come to discover that due to his incompetence in his duty the release of your fund has been delay, and because of that, the Federal Executive Council has agreed to profer solution to your problem.
Meanwhile, the Meeting of the African Union in-conjunction with the Economic Community of West African States, and Federal Executive Council regarding the release of your over-due contract inheritance fund with the Nigeria Government, they have appointed Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development as the approved bank to carry on with the release of your fund to you, which you are advice to get back to this office for further details about the release of your fund.
However, the Payment files no. XCX 00948 submitted to my office from the Federal Executive Council state that the release of your contract inheritance sum is yet to be completed, which your name was among the short-listed Eight beneficiaries that has not receive payment, and the approved amount to be release to you by this office is (US$8,700,000.00) Eight Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only.
More so, we shall not tollerate any mis-conduct that might caused by you or any, that is why we are appealing to you to dis-associate yourself from any bank or offices other than this one that has been approved to carry on with the release of your fund, and you are advice to re-confirm to us the following.
Your Full Name
Contact Address
Direct Telephone Number
Occupation
A copy of your driver’s license or passport
Finally, you are given 72hrs to respond to this mail, so that we shall release your contract inheritance fund to you without  any delay. Note that, upon your response we shall direct you to the paying back for the release of your fund to you.
Dilligent in Service,
For and on behalf of
His Excellency
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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