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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: "Simon Lowth" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrabrahamayew50@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 04:57:18 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY

BG Group plc
Thames Valley Park,
Reading,
Berkshire,
RG6 1PT
United Kingdom
 
Sir,
 
It is with trust and confidence that I write this urgent business assistance to you. I am a principal staff with Oil & Gas Company {BG GROUP} in United Kingdom .I have been assigned by two of my colleagues to seek for a trust worthy foreign partner who will assist us in the transfer of the sum of gbp12,000,000.00(Twelve million  pounds) only into a safe foreign account pending on our arrival in your country for sharing and utilization of the fund with the owner of the account.
On the 20th of January 2014 our corporation, the British gas plc (bg group), awarded a contract of gbp168, 000, 000, 00 (one hundred and sixty eight million pounds) only, to a foreign firm for the supply of some equipment valued gbp156, 000, 000, 00 (one hundred and fifty six million pounds) only. But I and my colleagues being members of the contract awarding committee over-inflated the  contract to the tune of gbp168,000,000.00 (one hundred and sixty eight million pounds) only, with the intention of sharing the remaining balance 12,000,000.00 (Twelve million pounds) only among ourselves.
 
The contract has been successfully executed and the actual contractors had been paid their gbp156,000,000.00 (one hundred and fifty six million pounds) in full leaving a balance of gbp12,000,000.00 which we now want to transfer out of the country in our favor for disbursement among ourselves. Meanwhile I and two of my colleagues have agreed that if you/your company can act as the beneficiary of this fund , ou will retain 30% of the total fund, for the assistance rendered, while we would retain 60% of the total and the balance of 10% of the total fund will be set aside for the off-setting of all expenses that might be incurred by both parties during the fund transfer process.  We are requesting you to co-operate with us and provide a convenient account number in a designated bank where this fund can be safely transferred; we intend to come over there on the completion of the fund transfer to secure our own share of the fund.
Please, note that we have been careful and have worked out all the modalities for a smooth transfer of this fund to your chosen designated account before contacting you .We would therefore not want you to expose this proposal to any body for the purpose of security and its confidential nature. Please be rest assured that this transaction is 100% risk-free. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please contact me through my personal e-mail address for further information on this transaction. Note that the particular nature of your companys business is irrelevant to this transaction.Note that your favorable reply is urgently needed. This information is highly confidential and urgent.
 
Best regards
 
Simon Lowth
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director

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