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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. George Uzor <officefile888@gmail.com>
Reply-To: georgeuzor@zbavitu.net
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:38:06 -0600
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED

From The Desk Of,
Mr. George Uzor.
Heads Regional Manager,
Ecobank West Africa Plc.
Email:georgeuzor@zbavitu.net

Dear Sir/Ma,

My name is Mr. George Uzor. I am the Regional Manager of Ecobank West Africa Plc, Cotonou branch Benin. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am married with two lovely children. I am a man of peace, and have sincere respect for human feelings and opinions. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me. As the Regional Manager of Ecobank West Africa Plc, Cotonou branch Benin it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city, Cotonou at the end of each business year.

On the course of last year, 2010 business report, I discovered that the branch in which I am the Manager made Seven Million Six hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars ($7,680,000.00) which my head office is not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this fund on what we call Escrow call account with no beneficiary.

As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 40% of the total funds as commission. Another 10% has been mapped out for any expense might incure in the process.

There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, it will be simply a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account under few working days. If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much as you are the first and the only person I am contacting for this transaction.

Send me an email as soon as you receive this message if you think so that we can go over the details.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. George Uzor




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