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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: "Dr Alex Dome" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexdome@ibibo.com>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 16:30:04 -0700
Subject: Hello.

Good day,
 
I want you to patiently read this offer. I am Dr Alex Dome .The Head of Delegation to the World Bank in West Africa. I am the linkman between the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries - OPEC and the petroleum sector in a West African country.
I also attend OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva. I also Attend The 148th Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC convened in Vienna, Austria, on 5 March 2008 Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC, I was able to make $15.Million. Fifteen MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS I want you to assist me to claim this money as i cannot claim it directly because I am still a civil servant, and the code of conduct bureau forbids me to acquire such amount of money.
 
It is on this basis that I am contacting you for assistance, if you will be interested, claim documents will been processed and sent to you. The documents with which the fund is deposited will be changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be eligible to collect the fund on my behalf.
You shall be entitled to 30% of the total funds while the rest will be given to me on arrival in your country. I am aware of the international monitoring of all large-scale financial movements after the September 11th2001 terrorist attack on America and to avoid any state of financial investigation I will provide a classified clearance paper from the relevant body which will exonerate the money from either drug, money laundered or terrorist related proceeds.
 
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is 100% risk free and doesn't have any negative implication. You should not entertain any fear as all modalities for the smooth and easy transfer of this fund have been finalized. If you can conveniently assure me of your ability to keep this business very secret and confidential, you can write back to me giving me your telephone/fax numbers for easier communication.
 
Expecting your response.
Best regards,
Dr Alex Dome

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