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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: "Signed: Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ssgtmark_george@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 22:25:47 +0100
Subject: Please contact my Secretary

Hello,
Greetings & Compliments of the day!
This is Mallam Sanusi Lamido, and this mail comes to you in my place. I'm very happy and obliged to inform you about my success in getting the funds transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from London, United Kingdom. Presently i have quit my Banking carrier and I'm now in London for investment projects with my own share.
Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in the realization of this endeavor despite the fact that it failed somehow, but honestly, i remember and i appreciate you.
Now, i feel i should let you have something anyhow, undermining how little it is, it’s my widow's might, as i hope you will most great fully appreciate it. So you should contact my personal Secretary, his name is Ssgtmark George and his contact email address is (ssgtmark_george@yahoo.com).
Tell him that i have instructed you to contact him for the money, and ask him to send you the total sum of US$500,000,00, which I have drawn in your name and kept for you as compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this endeavor. I did appreciate your efforts very much, and that's why you have to accept my token and keep the matter to yourself. So feel free and get in touch with my Secretary Ssgtmark George, and advice him on how and where to send the amount to you quickly.
Please, do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the troubles incurred during the claim. As at the moment, I am very busy here in London because of the projects which I and my new partner are having at hand in London, United Kingdom.
Finally, remember that I have left instruction to my Secretary on your behalf. So feel much free to get in touch with him and he will send the money to you without any delay.
My greetings to your family and well wishers
Regards,
 
Signed: Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

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